No hard feelings for Josh Willingham?

(One of the highlights of the 2010 season for Josh Willingham had to have been the USO Stuffing party with Miss Virginia USA Samantha Casey back in July. Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Microsoft.)

Surprise! Josh Willingham is reportedly "unlikely" to receive an extension from the Nats (in other words, there's not a chance in hell); but MLB.com's Bill Ladson reports that Josh Willingham understands. No hard feelings. Here's Willingham's agent, via Ladson:

"The Nationals have a right to do whatever they want. It's part of the arbitration process. They are in no obligation to offer him a multiyear deal. He is under control for one more year."
(Matt Sosnick - Josh Willingham's agent - via Bill Ladson/ Nationals.com, 11/18/2010)

And here's Rizzo, via Nationals Journal:

"I think we're going to take him one year at a time, like we've been doing. That's the short answer. But things are fluid, and they could always change. We'll see what the season brings us."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nationals Journal, 11/17/2010)

In other words, there are two basic options left for Willingham: arbitration or trade. And despite Bill Ladson's sources saying a trade before the start of the 2011 season is likely, and Mike Rizzo telling the Post's Adam Kilgore that there is interest from other teams, we're guessing Josh gets a nice raise for himself in arbitration, starts the season in left for the Nats, then gets dealt at the trading deadline. Here's Rizzo, on interest in Willingham from other teams:

"His name has been brought up by several people. He's a right-handed bat that's a productive bat. There's not a lot of those guys out there."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nationals Journal, 11/17/2010)

You could almost say the same thing about a certain left-handed productive bat that does nothing but mash baseballs for a living and is gradually becoming not-terrible at first base. There's not a lot of those guys out there, Mike. Oh, and will the press conference announcing Adam Dunn's new 3-year deal with the Orioles happen before, or after, Thanksgiving?

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Comments

[bdrube]

No Dunn, no Willingham, no Strasburg...no fans in 2011.

Way to go, Nats! :(

[Anonymouse]

But there's always Bryce Harper's June 2011 debut to look forward to, right?

[Adam]

One, if Dunn signs with the O's then Rizzo will be sweating bullets all season. When there are plenty of people who could easily go to see either team, and you let a fan favorite leave....you better be damn sure you're right about him. Also, the logic that I can't get behind is that if we have a player where "there aren't a lot of those guys out there" why does that mean we're trading him. Wouldn't it be nice to be glad you have, and subsequently want to keep those rare players? That is the plan, eventually right?