The Nats need another relief arm (or two) and for a team that hasn't spent a lot of money it seems like an easy place to put some of that and make an impact. The Nats don't have a deep pen. They don't have a bunch of AA and AAA relief arms dying to get up.
The major league signings recently have been relief focused so it's worth a perusal to see who's left.
VERY GOOD LAST YEAR
We're left with the old. David Robertson (40) and Kenley Jansen (37). Both these guys have been nothing short of great if you look at their careers, however lacking the save chances leaves Robertson as an afterthought to most fans compared to Jansen. But it also leaves him more affordable. At 40 he won't get more than a 1yr deal with an option. Current talk revolves around the Cubs. Jansen on the other hand will look for either real big money or a final secure contract and he's looking for a contender. So while the Nats have been floated out there he many not be as interested in coming here for a team that is still at least one year away.
GOOD LAST YEAR
Danny Coulombe was right across the way in Baltimore finally putting it together and having that complete year his stats suggested was possible. Although it was really a complete HALF year due to injury. If you think he's healthy and able to repeat last year he could be a steal. The Yankees look close to picking him up.
Hey Dylan Floro! A consistent keep the ball in the park pitcher is not flashy but is definitely solid and proved it again in DC after an off 2023. There isn't a lot of talk so here's where I think the Nats could jump in. Excited yet?
Jakob Junis is a failed starter who moved into long relief for good in 2023. 2024 was better with him showing incredible control which helped keep his hits down. Doesn't K guys and gives up the occasional homer but if he's hitting his spots like 2024 he'd be a better Floro.
CLASSIC NATS TARGETS
Alas, the Nats in their "win later, maybe" mode are probably looking for guys like they brought in last year. Not old guys who weren't great in 2024 but that is probably a little fluke and they should pitch fine in 2025 and maybe they can flip them or keep them depending. Not STUFF guys either, more control and homer depressers. To that end :
Trevor Gott sits on the fringes of being a good reliever with the ability to keep homers and walks down... sometimes. He missed 2024 with injury so probably there on a minor league deal.
Colin Poche is an unexciting Rays castoff who would be only 31 this year and in 2023 really held down homers. He walks a bit too much but his minor league numbers suggest the homer suppression can be kept up.
Ryan Yarborough was a guy who lived off the fact he didn't walk many people so the hits and homers he gave up were less impactful. Last year was his first full time short reliever season and showed some promise.
Brent Honeywell Jr. can't strike out anyone but doesn't want to. His numbers last year and in the minors make you think he can keep the walks down and if he can then he would be actually good. Plus he is a record holder (most pitches in one World Series inning - 50)
Pencil me in for Floro and Yarborough and Rizzo calling it a day.
2 comments:
What's up with Kyle Finnegan? I get that people think he's not really as good as his numbers, but you'd think he'd have signed somewhere by now.
I assume that Finnegan wants to be signed as a closer or at least for closer money and the market sees him like Rizzo, not worth the c. $8M.
Robertson would be a good pick-up, in that he can close or set up, he'd only be on a one-year deal if age eats him at last, and if the Nats are in fourth place at the deadline and he's pitching to expectations he could certainly be moved to a contender for a respectable prospect. He and one of the second-tier guys like Floro would make the back end of the pen roughly resemble last year's Harvey-Finnegan-Law-Floro group while letting the remainder of the pen audition guys like Ferrer to see who, if anyone, can put it together as a reliable reliever. And if the Nats trade some of the better arms it clears room to move any of the Soroka, Williams, Ogasawara, Herz group who fail at starting.
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