Bowden's 'mind is always working'

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Jim Bowden has been on the job as interim general manager of baseball's Washington franchise for three weeks, and he's already signed shortstop Cristian Guzman for four years and $16.8 million, locked up third baseman Vinny Castilla for two years and $6.2 million, acquired problem child Jose Guillen from the Anaheim Angels by trade, and given up two prospects and a pair of high 2005 draft picks in the process.

Now Bowden can break for lunch at the nearby Cracker Barrel, then return to his office and let us know if there's anything to the rumors that he's thinking about sending first baseman Nick Johnson to the Mets. For a guy who doesn't have a definitive budget and is basically working out of a cow pasture, he's not having any trouble making news.

Nationals assistant GM Tony Siegle, who will soon join Bowden at the team's winter office in Viera, Fla., has worked under 23 general managers in nearly 40 years in the big leagues. He ranks Bowden right up there in the category of boundless energy.

"What's the word – indefatigable?" Siegle said. "He's a dynamo. He'll call me at night with something, then he'll think of something else in the morning or the afternoon and he might be going in another direction. His mind is always working."

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Jerry Crasnick | email

ESPN.com MLB Sr. Writer

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• ESPN.com senior writer
• Author of "License to Deal"
• Former Denver Post national baseball writer