The Nats brought in Drew Smith. He just went through his second Tommy John but says he's fully recovered. He's been a live-arm guy who has always outperformed his fancy stats. If one was to theorize it could be because his fastball is fantastic and when he needs to dial it up to get an out he can do it. But his other pitches aren't good and when all you can do to succeed is dial up the fastball well, that's how you get a guy with two Tommy Johns and under 200 IP over 6 seasons of pitching.
As a minor league deal it's fine and I guess the Nats have reached the time when they feel thy can pick up bargains. Will they make many more moves? I doubt it but expect a few more here and there. Maybe a veteran catcher. Maybe a DH. Another reliever. Not anyone that would excite you but gap fillers.
The signings aren't going to be the focus of the Spring though. Instead we should be focused on these questions
Will CJ Abrams be here on Opening Day? The Nats are in rebuild mode with an aim to have the #1 minor league organization in baseball. It seems pretty clear that trading Abrams, with limited control left, would be a way of getting there.
What is the plan at Catcher? Ruiz has the money but he's been literally unplayable in recent years. Do they start with Millas? Ford? Or is there a vet out there they will throw back behind the plate at first?
What's the DH/OF situation? Are the Nats having a set OF? If so who is in it? Do they go Lile/Wood and forgo D or do they give Young another shot. If the OF is not set then what's the rotation plan for DH?
What's up with the hurt arms? Josiah Gray should be pitching in the Spring and we'll get a sense there. Will we hear anything about Herz or Williams, who have been moved to the 60-Day DL? And how does this factor in the projection for the rotation?
Ok Spring is here. Well Spring is there in Florida. Let's get started.
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