Baseball Notes

Credit: Rizzo

By: Times-Dispatch Staff | From staff and wire reports
Published: February 02, 2012

The Washington Nationals' minor-league system has been named the best in major-league baseball, according to the just-released 2012 Prospect Handbook published by Baseball America.

Washington's No. 1 ranking among MLB's 30 franchises stands in stark contrast to the 2007 season, when the Nationals' system ranked dead last.

Mike Rizzo, the Nationals' executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager, said the honor reflected the commitment of the organization to rebuild a system that was among baseball's worst when it was moved from Montreal.

"I cannot begin to say how proud I am of the Nationals' scouting and player-development staffs," said Rizzo, who joined the team in July 2006. "The Lerner family told me they intended to build the Nationals from the ground up and we took it seriously.

"The scouting and player-development departments worked tirelessly and effectively to sign the best prospects to make a major-league roster and to give us the ability to either play the best or trade for the best.

"That's the recipe for building a successful organization."

Rizzo said key signings the past five years, including Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Jordan Zimmermann, Drew Storen and Anthony Rendon, coupled with the recent trade of four prospects for All-Star Gio Gonzalez, demonstrate how the scouting and player-development strategy of the Nationals should position the organization to better compete in 2012 and well into the future.

The list was compiled and published just before the recent Gonzalez trade, which sent four prospects (A.J. Cole, Tommy Milone, Derek Norris and Brad Peacock) to the Oakland A's, further demonstrating the value of the team's minor-league system.

Meanwhile, the Nationals have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Chad Durbin for a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

He went 2-2 with a 5.53 ERA in 56 games last year with the Cleveland Indians.

Elsewhere

Carlos Guillen is returning to Seattle after agreeing to a minor-league contract with the Mariners. He spent the past eight seasons in Detroit, where he was a three-time All-Star and hit .308. Guillen, 36, started his career with the Mariners, playing in 488 games in Seattle from 1998-03.