Jim Bowden Next Quotations

Since he is not a pitcher and he's a shortstop, it was worth at least trying to rehabilitate the shoulder. If he doesn't get any better in the next couple of weeks, we will go ahead and operate.

I have been embarrassed the last two days. There's going to be major cuts in the next 48 hours. It's time to take it to another level. I just don't want to be embarrassed. That's all I ask.

He's going to play left field. He needs to be out there now the next couple of weeks to play, and if he's not going to play for us, we need to know so we can go forward. We obviously will field offers, but we're not going to give the player away. If we can make a deal that makes sense, we will.

Our responsibility is to take care of him for the long-term, not just today, tomorrow or the next day. We need him for the long run, the next three, four, five years.

Brian is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball and we're glad to be able to keep him in Washington for at least the next four years. It is the goal of any organization to sign, develop and then retain their own homegrown players, and this is what we've accomplished with Brian's contract.

We are very pleased to be able to lock up Nick Johnson, who we view as one of the core players who will take the Nationals to the next level. Nick is a complete player both offensively and defensively, and we appreciate his positive influence in the clubhouse. He is the type of player and person that the Washington Nationals are all about.

As long as it's done in the next three weeks, even month, you'll be fine. If it were to drag on, and now you lose this off-season, then it would be an issue. But baseball's aware of that. They're not going to let that happen.

It's at the point that we will probably make a decision in the next seven days. We're not pushing him but we need to see where he's at.