Why Carlos Pena should go to the Washington Nationals

Legitimate power and proven leadership at a reasonable price

 Carlos Pena 2011 stats: BA .225; OBP .357; HR 28; RBI 80 Cost: $10 mil.

Why Carlos Pena should go to the Washington Nationals: 

1. Chance to be a star again. The Nationals will be in the national spotlight next season. Stephen Strasburg is already a national hero, and Bryce Harper has a good chance to eclipse his stardom. Being the leading RBI man and team veteran on a rising underdog team everyone is watching could do wonders for his own personal fandom.

2. Increased stats. On the Cubs, Pena knocked in 80 runs and had 28 HR hitting in front of Aramis Ramirez, who only had 26 HR himself and slugged .510. On the Nationals, he could have the protection of Michael Morse, who had 31 HR and slugged .550. Furthermore, Ramirez could be a free agent at the end of the season, leaving Pena without anyone to provide him lineup protection.

The Nationals also could provide Pena with more protection from the front side. Number two hitter Jayson Werth led the majors with 4.5 pitches per plate appearance in 2009, and Zimmerman saw 4.37 last season. After tiring himself out in back-to-back at bats against Werth and Zimmerman, and fearful of Morse's power, Pena has an increased chance of seeing some great pitches.

Lastly, if Werth could bounce back and approach his .388 OBP from 2010 and Zimmerman can keep up the .370 OBP he's averaged over the past three seasons, Pena's RBI oportunities would increase dramatically with a move to the Nationals.

Why the Washington Nationals should sign Carlos Pena:

1. Added thump. Werth and Zimmerman are both OBP machines, but have very little power behind them to knock them home. Pena has a very low average and strikes out a ton, but his proven RBI abilities are a necessity for a team that wants to compete. No one on the Nationals had 100 RBI last season, Pena has hit 100 RBI three times. He also too 101 walks last season, so he isn't a Mark Reynolds-type who stops the offense dead if he doesn't hit a home run. He can keep the line moving.

2. Jayson Werth. In the last three seasons that he hit in a powerful Phillies lineup, Werth averaged 29 HR per year and a .279 BA. Last season - with very little protection - he hit .232 with 20 HR. If the Nationals were to sign Pena, not only would his stats help the team, he would provide relatively cheap protection for Werth. Werth is due to make $112 million over the next six seasons, so the Nationals CANNOT afford for him to keep playing at this level. Pena averaged 34.4 HR over the past five seasons, so his protection in the lineup could spell the return of a dominant Jayson Werth.


3. Bryce Harper. Harper is a young, cocky slugger. Pena is a veteran who has seen both the joy of MVP consideration and the pain of getting released from team after team because he didn't live up to expectations. Pena could be a very important mentor to the young Harper, who can teach him how to deal with the pressures of being a blue chip prospect.

4. Show the fans you're dedicated. Signing Werth was a big step in showing Washington fans the owernship is dedicated to fielding a winning team, no matter the cost. Bringing in a slugger of this caliber will remind them this is a team on the rise, and the team's first winning season could be in the near future. And the Nats wouldn't have to break the bank to get him either.

If the Nationals can slip in and grab Pena for under $10 million, he would provide the thump in the heart of their order that could mean a winning season. A lineup featuring Ian Desmond, Werth, Zimmerman, Pena, Morse, and Harper 1 - 6 would be the perfect mix of high OBP plus power. Throw in the first full season of Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann pitching side by side, and you have a recipe for success. Finally.