Nationals GM Mike Rizzo was a guest on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM earlier today and discussed his team’s ninth inning option with hosts Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette (audio link via Soundcloud). “We feel that we have a closer in house,” said Rizzo. “We’ve felt that ever since early in the offseason when we didn’t get one of the big three closers. We feel that he’s here. We’ll figure out which one it is. They all have the stuff to do it. You talk about a power bullpen — we’ve got four or five guys that throw 95-plus in the bullpen.” Pressed further on the issue later in the interview, Rizzo conceded that if things aren’t going well during the season, the Nationals will be open to seeking outside alternatives, but the GM did not indicate that he’s looking to acquire a closer in the limited time between now and Opening Day.
David Robertson has been the “proven closer” that is most commonly linked to the Nats in trade rumors, though FanRag’s Jon Heyman reported earlier today that the sides don’t seem to feel the other is all that serious about getting a trade worked out. Per Heyman, the Nationals feel the asking price on Robertson means that the Sox aren’t all that interested in moving him, whereas the Sox feel the Nationals haven’t been very aggressive in pursuing him.
A couple more on last year’s NL East champs…
- Also from that MLB Network Radio interview, Bowden specifically asked Rizzo about the team’s acquisition of left-hander Enny Romero from the Rays. Bowden noted that Romero caught his attention during the World Baseball Classic when hitting 100 mph with his fastball, and Rizzo explained that Romero has been on the team’s radar for years. The Washington GM revealed that he pushed for the Rays to include Romero in the trade that sent Nate Karns to the Rays in exchange for Felipe Rivero and Jose Lobaton, but the Rays would not part with him.
- Max Scherzer threw 54 pitches in a minor league game against the Mets today, writes Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, and he did so with his traditional fastball grip — a grip he’d been unable to use earlier this spring as he worked back from a stress fracture in the knuckle of his right ring finger. Scherzer had previously experimented with a three-fingered grip on his fastball in order to alleviate some pressure on the problematic knuckle, but he was relieved to get back to his traditional pitch arsenal today, Janes notes. The plan for Scherzer is to start a Major League game six days from now, which would give Scherzer time to make three more spring outings. “That’s 70, 85, 100 [pitches],” Scherzer said, suggesting that he’ll have time to ramp up for the season. Janes notes that that schedule wouldn’t line Scherzer up to start on Opening Day but could allow him to make his 2017 debut during the Nationals’ first turn through their rotation.
The Nationals should just roll with Kelley as their closer. He’s much better than any realistic closer they could find and was one of the best relievers last year anyways
And he’s a ticking time bomb to get hurt.
Why not try? His injury at the end of last season was hyped up and it wasn’t as serious as people believe it to be.
Are you on the Nats medical staff or did you stay at a Holiday Inn?
Huh? He had to be held out of back to back games for most of the season and towards the end there were reports that he couldn’t move his arm when he woke up. He couldn’t move it until he came into the stadium and received treatment and they would loosen it up enough for him to throw and then immediately after he would be back in treatment.
And it’s not just this year. He’s never thrown more than 60 innings in a season, which would put him around 80th among 2016 relievers in IP. Only 2 of the top 10 leaders in saves last year did it in less than 60 IP. I’m definitely up for trying, but you’d be stupid not to have a really good backup plan ready.
Thoughts and prayers.
Hahahaha
Careful or the snowflakes will have you banned!
He lost feeling in his fingers. I’m sorry but to me at least that seems pretty serious.
Don’t blame the Nats for not being serious on Robertson. The Sox got such a good deal on Eaton that I think they’re overvaluing their players. I wish they’d realize they aren’t getting a Sale-like return for Quintana and that Frazier, Robertson, Abreu, etc. aren’t worth as much as they thought.
Just because they haven’t doesn’t mean that they won’t get a Sale like return for Q.
The Nationals aren’t that good it’s just that they play in the worst Division in baseball
They’re pretty good
I agree. If any of the teams mentioned as likely to make the playoffs won the World Series I wouldn’t be surprised…except the Nationals.
Lots of good pieces, but there are always holes.
The worst Division in baseball?
Baseball Prospectus has the AL Central as the worst division:
AL Central
CLE: 92
DET: 79
MIN: 78
CWS: 76
KC: 71
NL East
WAS: 89
NYM: 88
MIA: 77
ATL: 76
PHL: 73
The AL Central has Cleveland and….*crickets*. The NL East at least has WAS and NYM…with a sneaky good ATL team. I don’t expect much from MIA or PHL…but PHL at last has some young arms that could keep it competitive for a bit.
Why should the Sox settle for anything less than a big haul for Quintana?
His cheap 4 year contract is affordable for every mlb club, he’s a great teammate and an excellent starting left-handed pitcher
Just because a trade has not happened yet, does not mean the Sox won’t get a haul for him eventually
Yes, the key being 4 years of control. Jose Abreu has 3 and even David Robertson has 2 years left, meaning that the White Sox have time on their side to deal them. It’s the 2017 expiring contracts of Todd Frazier and Melky Cabrera that they need to be more urgent with in moving by the non-waiver trade deadline.
True that Aaron. I think with Frazier there aren’t many teams in need of someone at the hot corner, but by mid season there could be a need. Frazier just needs to keep up his game and the White Sox should be able to fetch a good catch from him.
Koda glover is going to be a boss closer for a very long time for this team
“We feel that he’s here. We’ll figure out which one it is.” Simply put: We wish we had someone better and will hope for the best.
To me the most concerning thing for the Nats is the play of Werth and Zimmerman. They both have under achieved for their contracts. Zimmerman has really looked bad. As for the pitching i think they have good starting pitching if healthy and I like Kelly and Glover as possible closers. If they can’t do the job Rizzo will make a move to get someone like Betances at the deadline. Maybe this is the year the Nats go to the world series since nobody is picking them like past years. I like the Dodgers to make it. Both have as good a chance as any top contender, except the Cubs. They look like a dynasty!
I think Harper bounces back and Murphy continues to hit, but it’ll be interesting to see how Weiters does in place of Ramos (w. his career year). Werth and Zimmerman hurt bc you can’t move them and they basically have to play. The SP will be fine (assuming Straus stays healthy) and their BP…no idea. They have a bunch of question marks, which could be solid or could provide a couple dozen blown saves.
Cubs wont repeat because of their rotation i know they have the same rotation but they threw to much innings last year