Marlins agree to trade LHP Olsen, LF Willingham to Nationals

Nov 11, 2008 - 1:48 AM BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) -- The Florida Marlins on Monday agreed to trade lefthander Scott Olsen and left fielder Josh Willingham to the Washington Nationals, according to a report by ESPN.

Florida, which surprised many by finishing third in the National League East with an 84-77 record, will gain the services second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, pitcher P.J. Dean and shortstop Jake Smolinski in the deal.

It is the second move in less than two weeks for Florida, which traded first baseman Mike Jacobs to the Kansas City Royals for reliever Leo Nunez on October 30 - two days after the completion of the World Series.

It is clearly a cost-cutting move by the Marlins, who entered the 2007-08 season with the lowest payroll in baseball at just over $21 million. With this move, they will have cleared over $800,000 salary for the 2008-09 season.

Meanwhile, the Nationals get a veteran starter while adding some pop to their lineup. Olsen went 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 33 starts last season, while Willingham - who can also play first base - hit .254 with 15 homers.

Bonifacio is a career .240 hitter, who was traded to Washington for Jon Rauch by Arizona last season. Dean went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 10 starts in the Gulf Coast League. Smolinski hit .306 in the New York-Penn League.