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Scott Olsen News & Rumors

Pitching and moaning paid off for Olsen
May 17
Beaver County Times
 columnist John Perrotto
"In the 24 years that I have covered the major leagues, fans have consistently asked me three questions: 1. Can you get me autographs? 2. Can you get me free tickets? 3. Does it bother you that the players make so much money? My answer to all three has always been 'no.' It's unprofessional for a reporter to ask a player for an autograph, it is unethical for a media member to accept free tickets and if sports writers were offered multimillion dollar contracts, I'd sign up for one. I've made a special exception to my stock answer for question No. 3 in the case of Scott Olsen, the left-hander who was released by the Pirates last Saturday. The Pirates signed Olsen for a guaranteed $450,000 last"
Pirates release pitcher Scott Olsen
May 15
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates tonight released left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen, one of the off-season signings made by the club. "We believed we were not going to have a good opportunity for Scott and made this move to allow him to find a better situation.," general manager Neal Huntington said. Olsen, 27, signed a one-year contract in the off-season worth $550,000 with a club option for 2012."
Pirates' Ohlendorf shelled in final exhibition tune-up
March 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Say what you will about spring training stats, it's still hard to look at Ross Ohlendorf's numbers and not have some misgivings going into the 2011 season. The right-hander entered his sixth and final spring training start Tuesday against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park with an 0-4 record and a 10.05 ERA. He left after four innings of the Pirates' 8-5 loss after allowing six runs (four earned) and seven hits. He struck out one, walked one, plunked three batters and threw 94 pitches, 55 for strikes. One person who has no doubts about his preparedness, however, is Ohlendorf. "I wish spring training had gone better, but I feel like I'm ready," said Ohlendorf, who was battling a cold. "I"
Olsen's injury helps settle rotation
March 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Left-hander Scott Olsen will not be with the Pirates in one week when they leave spring training camp and get ready for the start of the regular season. "I won't be starting any season anywhere," Olsen said. "We've taken a precautionary approach to fight through this dead arm." Management decided Monday to put the brakes on Olsen's sluggish return from a hamstring injury that affected his arm strength. Although healthy, Olsen likely will begin the season on the disabled list in extended spring training. Olsen, 27, strained his left hamstring Feb. 17 while warming up before workouts. He pitched March 14 and 17, allowed seven baserunners in 21/3 innings and posting a 15.43 ERA. "The ball is"
Olsen is hamstrung over latest setback
March 22
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Pirates left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen is almost certainly headed for the disabled list to begin the season, as a hamstring injury early in camp has set back his progress. "I don't think I will be starting [the] season, anywhere," Olsen said. "What we are doing is making sure, once we get healthy, we can just roll. ... I don't want to have two months healthy, three weeks off, two months healthy, a month off. "What I am doing is trying to get 100 percent healthy before I go anywhere." Olsen, who pitched an inning March 14 then 11/3 Thursday (both in relief) will most likely have a stint in extended spring training in Bradenton once the Pirates head north. Olsen's rehabilitation will"
Source: Pirates to add Scott Olsen
December 9
ESPN.com
 
"The Pittsburgh Pirates have reached agreement with free-agent left-hander Scott Olsen on a one-year contract, a baseball source told ESPN.com. Olsen will earn a base salary of about $500,000, and could make an additional $3 million in incentives based on starts. The deal includes a 2012 club option for about $4 million, the source said. If healthy, the 26-year-old Olsen is expected to fill a spot in Pittsburgh's rotation after Paul Maholm, James McDonald and the newly acquired Kevin Correia."
Pirates add Scott Olsen to roster
December 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Pirates on Monday took the first step toward filling their starting rotation by reaching terms with free-agent Scott Olsen. The deal won't be finalized unless Olsen, 26, passes a physical later this week. The left-hander would get a one-year contract which, due to his injury history, will be loaded with incentives. Over the past two seasons, Olsen battled shoulder problems -- he had labrum surgery in July 2009 -- and made just 26 starts for the Washington Nationals. In that span, he's thrown 1432/3 innings and went 6-12 with a 5.76 ERA. Olsen was Florida's sixth-round draft pick in 2002. He went 31-37 with a 4.63 ERA in four years with the Marlins, then was traded to the Nationals"
Pirates close to deal with free-agent pitcher Olsen
December 6
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates and Scott Olsen, a left-hander who will turn 27 in January, are close to agreement on a one-year, major-league contract based largely on incentive bonuses, and the agreement could be finalized later this week. Last year with Washington, Olsen had a base salary of $1 million and could have made up to an additional $2.85 million in bonuses based on starts. Olsen's deal with the Pirates is expected to be similar."
Pirates close to agreement with Scott Olsen
December 6
MLB.com
 
"The Pirates have tentatively agreed to a one-year, incentive-laden agreement with left-hander Scott Olsen, according to industry sources. The deal is contingent on Olsen passing a physical, which is expected to happen later this week. An official announcement could come as early as Friday. Reached by phone on Monday, Olsen's agent, Matt Sosnick, would not confirm that a deal had been reached. Olsen became a free agent in November after being outrighted off the Nationals' roster. He went 4-8 with a 5.56 ERA in 17 games (15 starts) last season. It was Olsen's second year in Washington, who acquired the lefty from the Marlins in a November 2008 trade."
Pirates may bid for ex-Marlins left-hander
November 25
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates are interested in signing free-agent pitcher Scott Olsen, according to an industry source Wednesday night. Olsen, who will turn 27 in January, is a 6-foot-4 left-hander who has a 4.85 ERA in 127 career starts, including the past two seasons with Washington. The Nationals outrighted him off their 40-man roster earlier this month, and he chose free agency. "The Pirates are one of several teams that have expressed interest in Scott," agent Matt Sosnick said. "It's certainly a compelling opportunity.""
Scott Olsen likely to start, Jesse English done for the year
July 28
Washington Post
 
"Scott Olsen will likely start Thursday after throwing a bullpen session Tuesday evening with Class AAA Syracuse, according to a source. Olsen has been on the disabled list with shoulder stiffness and inflammation since May 23 and has made a handful of rehab starts in July. Starting Olsen on Thursday will allow the Nationals to move back Craig Stammen and Ross Detwiler to pitch Friday and Saturday, likely in that order. Detwiler would receive an extra day of rest, which he could use after starting Sunday on three days rest."
Scott Olsen could return late this month
July 5
Washington Post
 
"Nationals starter Scott Olsen, one of the team's most consistent pitchers until stiffness in his surgically repaired left shoulder forced him to the disabled list, is progressing during his rehab in Viera, Fla., and will be ready to return to the Nationals by around July 20, according to Olsen's agent, Matt Sosnick. Olsen, who is 2-2 with a 3.77 ERA, last pitched May 21. He left the start after three innings with inflammation in his left shoulder. In 2009, Olsen's season ended in May when he underwent major surgery to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder. In the five starts before his truncated final outing, Olsen went 2-0 with a 1.11 ERA."
Scott Olsen 'blown away' by decision, intent on return
April 4
Washington Post
 
"To say that Scott Olsen was surprised today when the Nationals sent him to Class AAA Syracuse would be an understatement. "We were pretty blown away," said Matt Sosnick, Olsen's agent, in a telephone conversation. Olsen had been competing at the end of spring with Garrett Mock, whom the Nationals named the final piece of their rotation. Olsen struggled at the start of spring as he returned from the major shoulder surgery that ended his 2009 season. But he made a strong argument in his final two starts, particularly Friday against the Red Sox. He allowed one run on five hits while striking out seven, hitting 91 mph on one scout's radar gun. "What they were hoiping was as spring training"
Scott Olsen sweats it out
March 29
Washington Post
 
"The only thing left for Scott Olsen now is the waiting, all quiet moments and nasty thoughts. Within three days, the Nationals will decide if they want to carry him in their organization. If they do, they'll pay him $1 million. If they don't, he'll look for his next job. Olsen freely admits he thinks about this. "Yeah, you could say that," Olsen said. "I think about it all the time. I think about it every minute of the day. As much as you try not to, the more you think about it. I feel good with today and how things went. We'll let them make their choices." Olsen, with by far his best outing this spring, made the choice a little more difficult today. He allowed the Braves one earned run in"
Olsen is getting closer, but he's not there yet
March 14
Washington Post
 
"Scott Olsen still plans on being ready for the first week of the regular season, which for him mattered most Saturday after his second preseason start. "My arm's still attached," Olsen said. "Nothing broke today." In the Nationals ninth consecutive loss to begin spring training, Olsen started and allowed one run on four hits and no walks in three innings. More important than the results, Olsen felt he took another step forward in his recovery from last year's shoulder surgery. His fastball zipped at 88 miles per hour, an upgrade from his first start. "I'm getting there," Olsen said. "I'm real close. I don't know how close, but I think I'm real close. Maybe another start and another couple"
Nationals bring back Olsen with one-year deal
December 14
Washington Times
 
"Scott Olsen's time on the unemployment line didn't last long. One day after being nontendered by the Nationals, the left-hander signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with Washington. According to a source familiar with the deal, Olsen will earn $1 million in base salary. Incentives, though, would increase the deal to $3 million if he makes 25 starts and nearly $4 million if he makes 33 starts. Olsen, 25, was nontendered by the Nationals before Saturday's midnight deadline because as an arbitration-eligible player he would have been guaranteed a salary of at least $2.24 million in 2010. The Nationals weren't willing to take that chance with a pitcher coming off major shoulder surgery."
Olsen signs one-year contract with Nats
December 14
Washington Post
 
"Just one day after becoming a free agent, pitcher Scott Olsen re-signed with his old team, the first step in reestablishing himself as a healthy innings-eating starter and regaining his role as a central figure in the Washington Nationals' future. Olsen rejoined the Nationals on Sunday with a one-year contract worth $1 million, which could swell to just less than $4 million with incentives, a source familiar with the deal said. The Nationals had non-tendered Olsen on Saturday, cutting ties with the arbitration-eligible left-hander who is attempting to come back from shoulder surgery. In July, after making 11 starts with Washington (2-4, 6.03 ERA), Olsen underwent season-ending surgery on"
Olsen to miss rest of season after surgery
July 21
Washington Times
 
"Scott Olsen will have surgery Thursday morning to repair a small tear in his left labrum and will be out for the rest of the season, the left-hander said Monday night. After meeting with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., earlier in the day, Olsen flew back to the District to meet with team doctor Wiemi Douoguih. Olsen said there was a way he could have rehabbed the injury without surgery, but "everybody seemed to be along the same line of thinking" that surgery was the better option. Said Douoguih: "Nine times out of 10 this is just a cleanup procedure. We want him back to competition ready. We want to take care of this now." Douoguih, who will perform the operation, predicted Olsen"
Olsen Pitches Nationals to Victory Over Braves
July 6
Washington Post
 
"Ninety-eight pitches into his afternoon, Scott Olsen stood on the pitcher's mound, watching everybody converge on him like some claw closing its fist. The infielders joined by his side, the full sayonara conference, and there came Washington Nationals Manager Manny Acta, out of the dugout, past the first base line, ready to pluck the ball from his pitcher's hand and pass it along to somebody else. "I thought I was done," Olsen said. Viewed from above, the ensuing meeting took Olsen's toughness quotient to a new level and provided the galvanizing moment in Washington's 5-3 victory against the Atlanta Braves. The claw of humanity came in for the swipe, and Olsen was still there, defiant,"
Bullpen wastes Olsen's outing
June 30
Washington Times
 
"Among the developments that would have been least expected by anyone who stepped into Land Shark Stadium on Monday night was a pitching gem from Scott Olsen. So the left-hander's seven spectacular innings in his return from a shoulder injury were among the most encouraging things the Washington Nationals have seen all year. "You couldn't ask for anything better," manager Manny Acta said. Well, except for a victory. Another bullpen meltdown resulted in a 4-2 loss to the Florida Marlins and made Olsen's performance moot, closing what should have been an uplifting evening on a decidedly sour note. A nip-and-tuck pitchers' duel between long-time friends Olsen and Ricky Nolasco - combined,"
Nationals, Olsen avoid arbitration
February 9
Washington Times
 
"Scott Olsen and the Washington Nationals came to terms Sunday on a one-year, $2.8 million contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing that was set to take place Tuesday in Arizona. The 25-year-old left-hander, acquired from the Florida Marlins in November, managed to work out a deal with the Nationals after weeks of negotiations, though he may have settled a bit on the final salary number. Olsen had formally requested $3.5 million when arbitration numbers were exchanged last month. Washington countered with an offer of $2.5 million. Normally when the two sides agree on their own, the final figure falls closer to the midpoint. In parts of four major league seasons, all with the Marlins, Olsen"
Olsen, Willingham officially introduced into Nationals' fold
November 12
Washington Examiner
 
"The Nationals officially introduced left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham at a Tuesday press conference at Nationals Park. The two players arrived via Monday night's trade that sent second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and minor-leaguers P.J. Dean, a right-handed pitcher, and Jake Smolinski, a second baseman, to the Florida Marlins. "These guys are still very young and we control [their rights] for three more years," said Nats general manager Jim Bowden. "This is not a trade where we are renting a player for a year. These are two players that can fit in a long-term plan here." The trade was actually agreed to last Wednesday at the General Manager's meetings in Dana"
Nationals acquire Olsen, Willingham from Marlins
November 11
Washington Times
 
"The Washington Nationals took the first of what could be several bold steps to try to rebound from a dismal 2008 by acquiring two players from the Florida Marlins on Monday night who should make an immediate impact in 2009. Multiple baseball sources confirmed the Nationals will receive slugger Josh Willingham and left-hander Scott Olsen in a trade that is expected to send second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers P.J. Dean and Jake Smolinski to the Marlins. Washington officials would not comment, but Matt Sosnick (the agent for both Willingham and Olsen) confirmed the deal. A press conference is planned for Tuesday to introduce the players, who became available because of their"
Nats Acquire Willingham, Olsen
November 11
Washington Post
 
"The Washington Nationals last night struck a trade that satisfied two of their largest needs, fulfilling much of their offseason agenda while wasting little time. By sending second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers P.J. Dean and Jake Smolinski to the Florida Marlins, Washington acquired outfielder Josh Willingham and pitcher Scott Olsen, a pair the organization will count on to provide, respectively, power and innings. A news conference is scheduled for today in Washington to announce the deal, which several sources confirmed last night. The team is hoping that Willingham, 29, best suited as a corner outfielder, can fill the power void; he hit 15 home runs in a 2008 season"
Olsen says sore ankle passes test
August 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Scott Olsen is naturally optimistic, but even he started to worry a bit about his sprained right ankle when he hobbled off the team's charter from New York on Sunday night. "It hurt when I got off the plane," Olsen said. "It looked bad. That's probably the worst it was." His ankle remained tight when he got up Monday morning, but by the time he got to Dolphin Stadium it had started to loosen up. He decided to play catch in the soggy outfield grass with Matt Treanor, which led to a few minutes of long toss, and before you knew it Olsen had hopped over the bullpen fence and was climbing atop the mound. Forty-six pitches later, including 29 from a full windup, Olsen was pronouncing himself"
Olsen rolls ankle but should make next start
August 11
Palm Beach Post
 
"Left-hander Scott Olsen, who rolled his right ankle in the sixth inning Saturday, said he still plans to make his next start Thursday against St. Louis. If he can't, left-hander Andrew Miller could get activated from the disabled list and replace him. "In an emergency. But I talked to the training staff and they seem to think (Olsen is) going to be OK," manager Fredi Gonzalez said Sunday. "I'll be surprised if (Olsen) doesn't make it." Olsen didn't do his normal post-start running Sunday. He threw on flat ground and will try to throw his usual side session in the bullpen today. He had a slight limp Sunday morning but said the ankle was "not really" swollen. "Just stiff, ligaments and stuff"
Sore right ankle won't stop Marlins' Olsen
August 11
Miami Herald
 
"Scott Olsen said he will make his scheduled start Thursday despite a sore right ankle that had him limping around the clubhouse Sunday morning. Olsen rolled his ankle Saturday while covering first base. ''I don't miss starts,'' Olsen said. ``When was the last time I missed one?'' Olsen has never missed a start with the Marlins because of injury. ''My arm's not broke,'' Olsen said, but he acknowledged that he probably won't throw his normal bullpen session Monday because of soreness in the ankle. Manager Fredi Gonzalez didn't seem concerned. ''I'd be surprised if he doesn't make [his next start],'' Gonzalez said. If Olsen is unable to start, one fallback option would be Andrew Miller, who"
Olsen not worried about ankle
August 11
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Left-hander Scott Olsen said the "tightness" he felt in his right ankle Sunday would not keep him from making his start Thursday. Olsen tweaked the ankle covering first base on Carlos Delgado's grounder in the fifth inning Saturday. Unsure exactly how he hurt it, Olsen said he tagged the base with his glove. Somewhere in the process of collapsing on the bag, he took a misstep. Olsen was slow to get up and gingerly walked to the dugout. Sunday, Olsen was able to throw off flat ground, but he was noncommittal about today's scheduled bullpen session. Olsen said he would not have been able to throw off a mound Sunday. "I don't have to worry about that yet," Olsen said. "A bullpen is not that"
Olsen stars as Marlins win
July 10
Miami Herald
 
"Scott Olsen's head dropped the moment he heard umpire Joe West call ball four. Olsen knew then his day was over, that he wouldn't be heading back to the mound in the ninth inning to go for the complete game -- and not just any complete game, either. It would have been Olsen's first. It would have been the first thrown by a Marlin in close to two years. The Marlins won 5-2 on Wednesday, defeating the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park and capturing the series in the process. And nobody was complaining afterward, not one bit."