The Nationals have inked righty Jeremy Guthrie to a minor-league pact, the club announced. He’ll receive an invitation to the major league side of spring camp, and can opt out on March 27th if he’s not added to the MLB roster (per ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, on Twitter).
Guthrie, who’ll turn 38 in April, didn’t appear in the majors last year after a dozen seasons in the bigs. He went to camp with the Rangers and spent time at Triple-A with the Padres and Marlins, but was hit hard at every stop in 2016. Over his 86 2/3 frames at the highest level of the minors, Guthrie worked to a 7.17 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9.
The last time that Guthrie threw in the majors, in 2015 with the Royals, he wasn’t much better. He ended that campaign with a 5.95 ERA in 148 1/3 innings. That being said, he was still averaging 92 mph with his fastball and cycling through what Pitch F/X classifies as a six-pitch mix. And it wasn’t long ago that Guthrie was racking up sturdy, 200+ inning seasons with regularity. From 2007 through 2014, the durable veteran averaged 197 frames annually while carrying a 4.18 ERA.
Presumably, the Nats intend for Guthrie to function as a depth piece, as the organization has its five-man rotation set. He’ll likely represent an option if there’s an injury in camp, or if the need for an arm comes up during the course of the season.
this guy is toast
He’s almost 40, surprising he’s still going at it
No actually he is way past toast!
Very very burnt toast.
Nathan, Guthrie. Toothpick is getting his veterans.
looks like the Nats found their new closer ;)
What are you smoking?
Lol what are you smoking to not see the sarcasm
Better than what youehrnjd abuueijjd haaaahaaaa………….woooohooooo!!!
He will start the season in AAA and maybe get called up for a spot start before he gets DFA and retires.
Haha he stinks
I’m sure the Wash fans remember just how very bad he was in Baltimore….wonder if he has a May stipulation to make the big club
Baltimore as an organization was bad those years he was pitching 200 innings each and every year like clockwork also you conveniently left out and nobody else was that they had. He might not have been any Ace type in his prime, but considering he went out and threw 200 innings in a hitters park as well in the AL east? It counts for something
Not counting he’s been cursed to more bad parks.. Like Coors field.. Arlington (hitters I mean) with only KC being pitcher friendly his entire career.
Always thought after Baltimore converting to relieving might help. He was still able to reach up to 95 now and then.. don’t know about now tho. Early on he could hit higher in his career.
Great response. I loved Guts during his tenure with the Os
Watched him pitch down here in Australia, he got lit up, 6 runs in 4 digs I’m pretty sure, in saying that he was throwing the ball well, they were just getting hit haha! Good luck to him, he’s done a fair bit of media down here and has helped grow the league so good on him