NATIONALS NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM THESE "TOP TIER" PITCHERS



Jorge de la Rosa



There seems to be a lot of long faces this morning now that pitcher Jorge de la Rosa has resigned with the Colorado Rockies last night for a three-year, $32 million contract.

The question I have is why is that a bad thing? Just like Javier Vazquez the day before, not signing de la Rosa can't be anything but good for the still-building Washington Nationals.

de la Rosa will turn 30 before the start of the season. Before joining the Rockies in 2008, he played for both the Brewers and Royals, combining to go 15-23, 5.85, 10.4/5.2/6.4. In his three seasons with Colorado, he has gone 34-24, 4.49, still walking four batters per nine-innings.

Much has been said of the Coors Field effect on his ERA. But last season, de la Rosa went 6-3, 4.10 at home while going 2-4, 4.36 on the road.

In other words, he pitched better in Denver then he did around the National League.



Sammy Solis



He's intriguing because he is a strikeout pitcher, averaging eight per nine-innings over his career. However, de la Rosa has also averaged almost five walks per nine-innings over that same span.

This isn't the kind of guy who is going to help turn around the Washington Nationals. Unless he pulls a Sandy Koufax--that is, turn things around later in his career--de la Rosa is just another pitcher who could on any given night be superb ... or not.

Again, I'd much rather head into next season with John Lannan, Jordan Zimmermann, Jason Marquis, Livan Herandez in the front of the rotation with either Yunesky Maya or Ross Detwiler bringing up the rear. And lets not forget last year's second-round pick Sammy Solis, who pitched well in the Arizona Fall League this month and who many scouts say won't need very much time in the minor leagues.

And when Stephen Strasburg returns from Tommy John surgery--probably in August--that will be a very solid rotation.

While I appreciate Mike Rizzo's efforts, if he can't bring in someone like Matt Garza or Zach Greinke, there is no one out there that much better than the players the Nationals currently have. I think it's time to let the Nationals' kids--the ones who have talent--learn on the job.

Yeah. We're that close.