SporTech Matter Thoughts from JD, a rabid South Florida Sports fan and tech junkie. This is D-Wade's house.

Olsen, Willingham Traded to the Nationals

In a somewhat surprising move, the Fish have traded feisty Scott Olsen and fan favorite Josh Willingham to the Washington Nationals for Emilio Bonifacio, who hit .243 in 49 games last season, and two minors leaguers in pitcher P.J. Dean and shortstop Jake Smolinski, sources told ESPN’s Peter Gammons. Of course, the Florida Marlins are being tight lipped about the whole deal.

“We have nothing to say,” Larry Beinfest, the Marlins’ president of baseball operations, said while courtside watching the Miami Heat play the New Jersey Nets. “If that changes, I’ll let you know. We’re not planning on doing anything tonight.”

The rumors have been swirling for weeks now that Olsen was being heavily shopped around. What was not apparent to me was how weak the market was for the lefty. I figured Olsen would be sent out to a pitching starved Texas Rangers team who had a bounty of Catchers to deal.

I know this isn’t going to sit well with some folks but I am glad we were able to deal Willingham when we did considering the problems he has with his back. Willingham seriously declined last season after returning from a back injury that sidelined him for most of the first half of the year.

Considering how savvy Larry Beinfest has been in the past, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt here and take this in two ways. Both Olsen and Willingham were due a hefty raise and were the most expendable and the market for Olsen was so weak that he needed to be packaged with an affordable, quality bat.

So who are these guys we got from the Nationals? Read more after the jump…

Emilio Bonifacio – A defensive-minded middle infielder with plus speed, Bonifacio effectively takes the place of Alberto Callaspo in the Diamondback’s future. He is growing into a solid contact hitter, and his increasing walk rate also bodes well for a future in the leadoff position, while the move of Justin Upton to the outfield clears the road for him to take over for Orlando Hudson soon. While he possesses great speed, Bonifacio’s base stealing smarts are not quite as developed as his legs yet (as seen by his 25 percent caught-stealing rate) but he’s coming along. He’s someone who might have some value in late 2008, or sooner if Hudson is moved. (Scouting Book)

It already sounds like the move to improve the defense starts here. Emilio is clearly the centerpiece (if you can call it that) in this deal.

P.J. Dean – Dean is a 22-year-old right-hander who pitched for Vermont of the short season New York-Penn League, going 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 10 starts.

Jake Smolinski – Smolinski is a position player that was drafted this year by the Washington Nationals 70th overall. He is one of the reasons why the Nationals’ farm system will start to get more attention. He was drafted right out of high school, Rockford Boylan High, which is in Illinois. In his senior season, he had a .441 BA, 13 HR, 13 doubles, 49 RBI, and 50 runs. He followed this up with the Area Code Games (a series that displays some of the best High School Baseball Talent in the Nation), where he went 8 for 11, leading his team to a 5-0 record, which is the first time a Midwest Team won that tourny. (Information from studentsportsbaseball.com). (213 Miles From Shea)

On the surface this may look like a steal for this man and the Nationals. As I said earlier I look at these deals with caution and always give Larry Beinfest the benefit of the doubt. Olsen was a foregone conclusion to be dealt, but Willingham will take a bit to get used to.

Thoughts?