The Nationals have struck a minor league deal with veteran reliever Burke Badenhop, Jonah Keri reports on Twitter. He’ll receive an invite to MLB camp this spring.
Badenhop, who just turned 33, hit the open market when the Reds declined a club option at the start of the offseason. He didn’t turn in his finest campaign in his single season in Cincinnati, working to a 3.93 ERA with 4.9 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, and a 46.7% groundball rate. But he was much better after a rough opening run to the season.
That overall output fell shy of the good work Badenhop provided in the 2012-14 period. Over 195 1/3 innings logged in that span, he posted a cumulative 2.90 ERA while inducing grounders on over half of the balls put in play against him (topping out at 61% in 2014).
While he’ll have to earn his position on the Nats roster, the 6’5 sinkerballer should have his fair share of opportunity. Washington has reworked its entire pen, and still seems to have some slots up for grabs. Badenhop will likely compete with fellow veterans Yusmeiro Petit and Matt Belisle, along with younger incumbents such as Blake Treinen and Felipe Rivero, to round out the relief corps.
(By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about Badenhop, check out the interview he gave on the MLBTR Podcast last winter.)
If I’m a guy like Badenhop, I’m choosing my org based 100% on how likely I’ll be to pitch in the majors. To me, that says Phillies (or some other bad team). I’ll never understand why guys in his boat don’t think that way.
The Nationals bullpen has very few proven arms. Papelbon and Kelley are likely the only guys with spots locked down. Given that Badenhop was very good as recently as 2014 and wasn’t even terrible last year, I’d say he has as good a shot at making the Nats roster as he does the Phillies.
Wants a ring? Not saying the Nats are division favorites, but they’re going to be pretty good.
Yes! New young blood for the Nats
Young blood? He is 33, and he has been appearing in over 60 games per year for the last 4 years, (does anyone keep track of how many times he has had to warm up and NOT get in a game?) and his strikeout to walk ratio is dropping. Maybe he is running out of gas. It’s a minors deal so little risk, but I would temper my enthusiasm.