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Jose Guillen has been plagued by injuries and slumps, resulting in a .220 average. |
WASHINGTON--Jose Guillen returned to the Nationals' starting lineup yesterday, but he did so with the knowledge that his days in D.C. could be numbered.
It's no secret that the Lerner family, the team's new owners, have pledged to rebuild Washington's farm system, which could make veterans like Guillen potential trade bait.
Guillen is signed for $4 million through this season. He negotiated with the Nationals on a contract extension this spring, but he said he turned down a four-year offer while holding out for more money.
It is believed he wanted money akin to what the team offered left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who turned down a five-year $50 million extension.
"There could come a time that I made the wrong decision," Guillen said. "Maybe I should have taken that contract offer. I don't know. I just have to get ready and start playing baseball and just try to be the best that I can and start producing."
Producing comes with a caveat, however.
Guillen slumped this season thanks to a rash of injuries, and though he was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in yesterday's 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, his average remains at .220.
Manager Frank Robinson has said the team needs Guillen healthy and contributing for it to keep winning, but if he starts to heat up, it might make him more enticing to opposing teams.
"I'm not worried about all that stuff. If it happens, it happens," Guillen said.
"If I get traded, it will not be the first time and it's not going to be the last time," Guillen added. "I've been traded so many times. I have been released. I've been sent down. It doesn't surprise me in this game."
What position?Brendan Harris learned to play third base when he was traded to the Montreal Expos in 2004. He learned to play catcher earlier this season.
His next stop might be the outfield.
"We've talked about a little bit about taking some balls in the outfield, not extensively. It was just, 'Hey take a look at it,'" said Harris, whose natural position is shortstop or second base.
Harris started yesterday at second base in place of Jose Vidro, going 1-for-4 with a double, but playing time has been sparse for the 25-year-old William & Mary graduate.
With Vidro blocking him at second base and rookie Ryan Zimmerman entrenched at third base, yesterday's game was just his fourth start of the season. Could that change, Robinson was asked before the game?
"Yeah, get a couple guys traded," Robinson said.
"I know that's my role," Harris said. "I know there are great players ahead of me. I kind of come in ready for that role."
Work in progressJose Cardenal, the Nationals' special adviser to general manager Jim Bowden, has been in Washington for the last four days working with left fielder Alfonso Soriano, and he's been pleasantly surprised with the left fielder's progress.
"When he left spring training, I tell them we have to take him out of the game in the seventh inning," Cardenal said. "We don't have to do that. He is good enough. He is a better outfielder than a lot of guys around the league right now."
That has turned Cardenal's focus from toward the intricacies of Soriano's defense. The pair worked on catching balls at the wall yesterday after Soriano misjudged a deep drive Saturday, and Cardenal plans to try to get Soriano to adjust his throwing motion.
Soriano still throws like an infielder, which causes balls to tail on long throws from the outfield.
To reach TODD JACOBSON:
Email: tjacobson@freelancestar.com
