Jim Bowden Has Already Given Up

Or does he just have realistic expectations? Bowden explains the mindset regarding the trade deadline in his Washington Examiner column:

Although the trade deadline is four months away, we must start preparing now. We target clubs we think will contend and we commence scouting their top prospects in April and will continue through the deadline. We focus on starting pitching prospects as well as all of their top young players. We are blessed with a deep staff and because of that we have professional scouts whose only responsibility is covering the minor and major leagues. We have added several top pitching evaluators, including former major league pitchers Bill Singer and Bart Johnson. When you are rebuilding, you must consider all trade proposals. You're always looking for the deal where you trade one established player for three young players.

The Nationals farm system could have used some grade A prospects in exchange for Alfonso Soriano last season. Don't totally blame Bowden, as the offers he was getting for Soriano wasn't what he had hoped. But unfortunately, the offers that the Nats will get for anybody other than Ryan Zimmerman (and good luck prying him loose) will be meager at best.

Bowden's obvious best bet to get good value would probably be to deal Chad Cordero, who has had rumors follow him around for the past few months. Teams may be more willing to overpay for a closer nowadays that more teams are putting emphasis on the bullpen. Also, with Cordero not eligible for free agency until '09, teams would pay more for him than for Soriano, who was a free agent this past winter and would have been a slam dunk to move on no matter where he was traded.

Ronnie Belliard, John Patterson, or even Ryan Church could be other players used to rebuild the farm system come July.

Arm Bash: Capitol Punishment

Previously on The Fanhouse:
How many will the Nationals lose before it's said and done?
Here's someone the Nationals could trade
I hope whoever Jim Bowden trades will not turn to violence