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AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING


“Guzman and Castilla will be above-average defensively on the left side of the infield and that’s important…. These two guys have been to the postseason and that’s important, especially for this franchise that has a lot of players that haven’t been to the postseason.”

Jim Bowden, Unnamed Washington Baseball franchise general manager, on signing Cristian Guzman and Vinny Castilla to multi-year deals


“This is a guy that has driven in runs. He helped Atlanta win. He has been on a winning team before. He is a good defensive player…. You need veteran players that could lead other players. Vinny Castilla has done that before in his career. He will help us, which is a very important aspect of this signing. He can help develop young players.”

–Bowden, on Castilla


“I’ve had a great feeling this whole week because I feel wanted. I’m very excited to be part of this team…. They have great young talent in their organization and I want to be a part of that.”

Vinny Castilla, Unnamed Washington Baseball franchise third baseman, who’s hit .256/.301/.443 on the road over the course of his career, on joining the team (MLB.com)


“Cristian Guzman is a critical part of the future of the Washington franchise. You never see a winning team without a good shortstop…. Cristian is only 26 years old. He has been on a division winner the last three years. He has tremendous range. It doesn’t show up in statistics, but baseball people know what it means to win baseball games.”

–Bowden, on Guzman


“He has never scratched the surface on what he’s capable of doing offensively, but he’s only 26 years old. He will develop into a hitter in time. He has been decent-he hit [.274] last year. But he can do a lot more than what he has done. To be able to get a shortstop at this age, with the potential that he has, is a great first start for the Washington franchise.”

–Bowden

WE’LL GET THIS DONE…I SWEAR


“We will get this done…. We just weren’t quite ready with a lot of details. We like to have all the details done before we vote. Nothing more than that.”

Bud Selig, MLB commissioner, on moving the Expos to D.C.
(ESPN.com)


“We didn’t consider any contingencies, we didn’t consider any other options…. We fully expect to play in RFK next year, and we’re planning on it.”

Bob DuPuy, MLB chief operating officer (ESPN.com)


“Baseball is watching what is taking place here in the District, and if I were them, I wouldn’t vote either…. I’ve said all along that if the District fails to act, baseball will go elsewhere. Their action, by delaying their vote, only reinforces the fact that if we fail to act, baseball will go somewhere else.”

Jack Evans, chair of the District of Columbia’s Finance and Revenue Committee, on moving the team to D.C. (ESPN.com)

DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR


“I don’t want to play GM, but I think this organization has done some positive things, and I don’t think they’re looking to rebuild…. That’s not the indication I’ve gotten from the brief conversations we’ve had.”

Royce Clayton, former Rockies shortstop, on the Diamondbacks (Arizona Republic)


“I’m not in the stage of my career where I’m looking to be part of a rebuilding stage. I would hope they would try to get me here to win, because that’s my main objective.”

–Clayton


“We’ve got a lot of balls in the air whether it’s trade discussions, who to put on the roster, who to take off, what type of flexibility we need as we look to make deals…. There are a lot of variables.”

Dave Littlefield, Pirates general manager, on protecting just 37 players on the 40-man roster (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)


“We have less of that type of need because of the trades we have made and the internal options we have…. But you always have to be prepared in case you make a two-for-one trade or a free agent falls into your lap at the right price. Those are the things that go into your roster decisions.”

–Littlefield


“After six years (in Pittsburgh), it’s refreshing to know that you’re with a team that wants to improve and has the means to improve and the commitment to improve…. Whenever you hear names like [Sammy] Sosa and some of the big free agents, you get excited about coming back.”

Kris Benson, Mets pitcher, on signing a three-year, $22.5-million contract extension (N.Y. Daily News)

C.Y.A.


“I think what Kenny was trying to say was that Boras has some grand ideas about what his players should be making, and it’s going to drag out a long time…. And we’re not going to sit around and wait.”

Jerry Reinsdorf, White Sox owner, on comments from Kenny Williams which indicated that the Sox would not sign any of Scott Boras’ clients (Chicago Sun-Times)


“Boras is no different than any other agent during his players’ first five or six years, when they’re not free agents…. When it comes to free agency, he tries to squeeze the last dollar out, and that’s fine. Most of the time he doesn’t get what he’s looking for, except for some of his big guys.”

–Reinsdorf


“But sometimes you have to wait a long time, sometimes to the start of spring training. We’re not prepared to sit around and wait. But if Scott Boras has a client who’s reasonably priced, we’ll sign him. I have no problems with Scott Boras.”

–Reinsdorf

THE CONTINUING STORY OF BUNGALOW BILL


“I don’t think I’ve got all the answers, but the most immediate task I’ve got is trying to become familiar with the existing staff…. I know five or six of the guys fairly well. There are some good baseball people in Baltimore, guys that I’ve always respected.”

Joe Jordan, Orioles new scouting director, and former Marlins cross-checker (Baltimore Sun)


“You’ve got to look for athletes, and we’re going to look for athletes…. You’ve got to look for tools because that’s what helps teams win at the big league level. And then baseball players. If you can find those three ingredients in enough guys, then you’re going to have good drafts and you’re going to have good minor league teams, and eventually those guys are going to work their way to the big leagues.”

–Jordan


“I honestly doubt that’s very different from what they’ve done, how they’ve approached things. My conversations with Jim Beattie have been very positive as far as what we’re going to be allowed to do. We’re going to try to outwork the other teams. We’ll make enough good decisions if we just get our work done on them.”

–Jordan


“You can’t try to complicate this anymore than you have to. It’s about tools, it’s about athletes and guys who know how to play the game.”

–Jordan

Thank you for reading

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