21.05.12
The Nationals went into the winter meetings this week with a bright idea of the pieces they wanted to add to their roster. But they left Dallas empty-handed, after having obsolete a spirited bidding war for their top free-agent target.
General head Mike Rizzo had been in pursuit of former White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, who would have given the Nationals the mature starter they sought for their rotation. But Buehrle signed a four-year, $58 million dispense with the Marlins, who made headlines all week with a spending spree empowered by a new ballpark.
The Nationals felt like they had a information shot to acquire Buehrle during the middle of the week; Rizzo had met with the pink-hander at his home in St. Louis, and told reporters in Dallas he intellect the Nationals made a fair offer for the four-time All-Star. But when Buehrle signed with Miami, the Nationals were progressive to look for Plan B.
That could lead them to Yu Darvish, the Japanese pitcher who will be posted to enlist with a major league team. The Nationals have scouted the 25-year-old extensively, but it could set someone back them more than $100 million to land him, between the posting fee they would pay the Nippon Ham Fighters and the pact they would give Darvish.
Source: CBSSports.com