Nationals - Signed Guzman

Washington Nationals - Signed SS Cristian Guzman to a 2-year contract worth $16 million.

I so want to mock the Nationals, but Guzman’s but legitimately decent this season (and the part of last) and it’s only a 2-year commitment.  Not only has Guzman been hitting like a Major Leaguer since eye surgery, he’s actually been fielding like one for the first time in his career.  Cristian Guzman, Actual Contributor, Not Merely Pretend Contributor.  Who would’ve thunk it?  Perhaps Lenny Harris has something to do with it - lots of Nats hitters are having confoundingly bad offensive seasons, but who knows, maybe Guzman is just a bad enough hitter on a technical level that Harris was able to improve him?

Of course, after not bashing the Nats, Guzman will no doubt now go back to being a 290/350 flailer with Blauseriffic defense.  There’s certainly a reasonable chance that would happen, but see the free agent market lately?  Unless they’re going to compete for the few actual top players in the market, which they won’t, the Nats might as well bring Jeff Huson out of retirement or something.

2008 ZiPS Projection - Cristian Guzman
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Period         AB   R    H  2B 3B  HR RBI  BB  SO  SB    BA   OBP   SLG 
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Year-to-Date* 420  56  129  26  3   5  34  17  36   3  .307  .338  .419

Rest-of-Yr?   179  22   51   9  2   2  13   9  20   2  .285  .323  .391 
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Total         599  78  180  35  5   7  47  26  56   5  .301  .335  .411
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2009?         431  55  121  21  5   5  45  25  52   4  .281  .324  .387
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Top Comps:  Garry Templeton, Jose Vizcaino