As they look to improve their beleaguered bullpen, the Nationals are attempting to acquire both right-hander Ryan Madson and lefty Sean Doolittle from the Athletics, reports Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network (Twitter links).
At 53-36, the Nationals own one of the majors’ best records and lead the National League East by 9.5 games, but their success has come in spite of a horrid bullpen. With Blake Treinen, Joe Blanton, Koda Glover, Shawn Kelley and Sammy Solis having dealt with injuries and/or posted poor numbers, Nationals relievers entered play Saturday last in the majors in both ERA (5.18) and fWAR (minus-0.9). Clearly, then, Washington’s going to have to bolster its relief corps this summer if it’s going to make a serious push for a World Series in October.
Both Madson and Doolittle would seemingly help the Nationals’ cause, given that they’ve been excellent this season. The 36-year-old Madson has bounced back from a middling 2016 to resemble the stellar reliever he was in his halcyon days with the Phillies and Royals. Over 38 1/3 innings in 2017, the hard-throwing Madson has logged a 2.11 ERA, 8.92 K/9, 1.41 BB/9 and a sterling ground-ball percentage (55.9). He has also induced infield pop-ups at an 11.8 percent rate, further adding to his appeal.
Doolittle, 30, has put recent shoulder issues behind him to record a 3.38 ERA and ridiculous strikeout and walk numbers (13.08 K/9, .84 BB/9) through 21 1/3 frames. While Doolittle – who, like Madson, brings a mid-90s fastball to the table – hasn’t generated many ground balls (35.6 percent), he has offset that with an absurd infield fly rate (21.7 percent).
With the A’s at 40-50 and well out of the playoff picture, dealing both Madson and Doolittle by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline seems like a strong possibility. Neither player would be a rental for an acquiring club – Madson is on a $7.5MM salary through next season, and Doolittle is controllable on an eminently affordable deal through 2020.
geez mlb teams get off Oakland’s nuts
Not too many sellers hahaha
Haha
What would the cost be?
Andrew Stevenson and Juan Soto for Madson and Doolitte.
Stevenson would be who the A’s would be zoning in on being a great defensive OF. Hope he can hit above the mendoza line is the question on him.
The A’s may have enough boppers in Healy, Olson, Chapman, Davis (if they plan to keep Davis) that they just want Stevenson to be a fly catching CF. His field tool in Center is as good as Chapman’s at 3rd.
You aren’t getting Soto for that
Then both relievers don’t go to the Beltway.
Lots of fish in that sea this year. Especially if they made Soto available.
Then Rizzo will find his deal. Hard to find a package of two potential closers like Doolittle and Madson though.
Pplama, maybe so but how do we know White Sox won’t ask for Soto in return for Robertson or Miami asks for him in return for Ramos? Every team knows how desperate Washington will be to add a reliever.
That’s my point. If everyone is asking for Soto, he’ll go to the team with more to offer than Madson and Doolittle.
Robertson + Kahnle
Ramos + Phelps
Hand
Wilson
Reed + Blevins
would all be in the conversation to varying degrees
Hahaha, the White Sox will ask for way more than Soto and fringe prospects for Robertson.
Hahn isn’t going to just give you a closer because he likes Rizzo.
Hahn agreed to Luzardo + Ward for Robertson + cash, 4 months ago. That doesn’t become Soto + Kieboom on July 31st. with so many other reliever options available.
I’d be over the moon if we could get Kieboom + fringe for DRob.
Or Kieboom + Luzardo for DRob and Swarzak. But that’s a stretch.
Hahn agreed to it, but the deal did not happen, sure OK. GTFO.
You’re not getting Ryan Madson or Robertson for some garbage number 15 prospect in the Expos system.
The deal was axed by Nats ownership. Look it up.
The deal at the time was robertson coming off a bad season.
Robertson’s strike outs are up 3ish points, walks are down, and his fip xfip look better.
Him pitching better means his price went up.
Luzardo and ward would be good secondary pieces, but theyll have to include someone better or take on his salary with no cash involved for luzardo ward and a 3rd piece.
If Hahn could get either Soto or Kieboom, he’d take it in a heartbeat. I’ve been pushing for Soto since the offseason, so I’m hoping he eats whatever amount of that contract he needs to get it done.
And yes, they did agree to that deal mentioned above in the offseason.
Kieboom + 1 of Luzardo or Watson.
Or
Stevenson + Garcia + Watson
Want Madson, Doolittle? They will need to entice A’s Billy Beane big time…
Why? One is often injured and the other is old and is a 50/50 at best as to whether he’ll have a decent year or a horrible year
Because Oakland July fanboy said so. They should try and buy and finally go for it. They should deal Cotton plus to fill needs? Oakland needs the go for it this year or they will leave Oakland. Only 6 out. Oakland needs to be buyers with that young core. Thoughts Oakland?
Because two bullpen arms to help in a pennant race are totally worthless! KC and the Nasty Boy Reds didn’t win on the strength of their pen.
Why do you think the A’s are leaving Oakland? They have repeatedly said they will not be leaving Oakland, as well as spending what I am sure is hundreds of thousands of dollars on their “Rooted in Oakland” marketing campaign, all about how they are the only team staying in the city. As well as announcing a stadium location by the end of this year. Maybe next Wednesday you can watch the A’s broadcast, and hear how they are committed to the city, and at the same time watch a full Sonny Gray start and get a true understanding of his trade-value.
Athletics-Nationals trade.
Same song, 11th verse.
Fedde…. Batista….. one of the Keibooms
I doubt Fedde gets moved for a reliever. That would be dumb. But I will be happy if it happens.
Depends on what it is
Reliever plus something
Unless we are talking an elite lights out lefty reliever
Doolittle CAN be elite, probably not classified as elite because of injuries. But he’s not a LOOGY. 97 mph rising heater.
His best days are behind him
Not really, still throwing the gas, can close if you need him to.
let’s see, best K/9, FIP, ERA+, BB9, H9 of his career since 2014 not to mention best WHIP of his career and his best days are behind him? nice try
Most of the fans on here are casual idiots who want something for nothing.
and then there are people like you who want everything for something.
Give the As trea turner for both seems fair to me
That’s a horrible trade.
Agreed. It would need to be Turner+Harper for the A’s to even consider
That’s even worst
Be realistic dude
there both joking padresfan
Of course it seems fair to you. You are delusional Braves fan
Robles for both.
Unlikely but thought the same when I first saw this.
Robles, Fedde, Batista and Turner shall please A’s Billly Beane…
You’re high
Yanks offering Elsbury to Oakland for 2 top ten prospects. Just heard rumor on score!
Get em done Cash. Go get those prospects from Oakland. I rather have Cotton for Elsbury though.
Lmao why would Oakland want Ellsbury?
You have the most delusional ideas on here… I honestly cant tell if youre trolling or just really dont know what you’re talking about. *insert Fry meme*
Cards should send them Siegrist and Oh instead. Start the rebuild!!!
Would be two good ones to move I like it. Wouldn’t lower your chances too much this year really
They want to really pay I’d include Lynn. But I see Lynn drawing attention from Houston, Yankees, and others too who need or lost pitching.
Yea I just hope they buy or sell either way, no reason to stand pat this year
Itd be a good ine for nats. But,if they want to get bargain for lesser names….,neschak,benoit from phillies. If Benoit KNOWS his role…CLOSE,he’ll be great. Also,Necshak,if its 7th,8th..hes SHUT DOWN…moreso than anyone in league. Should get them.before red sox do. Or itll haunt u. I root for players..tho im a team fan,i can segregate myself. Id like the ‘old’ Expos to ein once!! Set up man who is U HITTABLE this year,a rezurgant,experienced closer in Benoit….they should. Theyll regret not. U less madson,doolittle. Madson WILL CHOKE as closer . Ive seen it.
How about these two and Franklin Barretto for Trea Turner?
Because so many reasons.
That’s a bad deal for the nats
They need bullpen help like crazy but battetto doesn’t have the ceiling nor the speed that turner has
The Nats are NOT trading TTurner. Not for any package of multiple relievers.
The owners don’t want to spend the money
It’s been noted that they have stopped other trades because of money. You got to ask if the owners want to win .
They won their MASN appeal on Wed. Have $millions more coming in because of it.
Not accurate. Just one positive step in a long process that may never end.
If both acquired, which one would get the nod at closer duties? I wondering for fantasy baseball purposes.
*I’m
I would guess Madson
Madson doesn’t want to close. In fact, he has specifically asked BoMel NOT to pitch the 9th.
Who wants Bailey and Storen from the Reds?
Nats would happily take Storen… along with Iglesias!
Bryce Reprah for both will do.
This kind of deal is one that is right up Rizzo’s alley. While it will not be cheap, I don’t believe it will be out of this world expensive. I think you may see something like
Nats get: Madson and Doolitile
A’s Get: SS Carter Keiboom, Andrew Stevenson, Tyler Watson, Joan Baez
Something in this general vicinity I think will get it done. Maybe substitute Austin Voth for Baez. I know Voth is having an awful year but he has looked very solid up until this year.
I’ll take that trade in a heartbeat.
Yeah, I think that’s too much from the Nats side. I think they could get a bigger name/actual closer for that package. But as a Nats fan, maybe 3 of those 4.
Joan Baez is a little old, isn’t she?
That’s what I was thinking
yes, but you win the national anthem nightly.
Hopefully we can get a decent prospect or two for both these guys. Both very solid relievers that would greatly benefit the Nationals
They need more than just a closer. The whole bullpen is horrible and 1 guy isn’t going to fix that. What good is just a closer if the guys before him can’t get a lead to him?
Madson pitches in the 8th, Doolittle in the 9th is what I suspect would happen if a deal goes down.
I thought they wanted a closer…Tigers aren’t gonna wait on them for the Justin Wilson Auction.
You can have Oh and Rosenthal. I beg you.
The Nationals farm seems kind of hard to judge, as a lot of their impressive talent is still in the lower minors, but they still have plenty of prospects to swing this deal, as well as getting a closer from somewhere else. Because of this, I don’t see the A’s getting there sought after future centerfielder with this trade. But do not discount the value that Madson and Doolittle have, and I would still expect the A’s to get a useful return for the pair.
Even at 36, Madson has been superb this year as stated above, and has constantly shut down opposing players with somewhat ease in the 8th inning each night. Its also helpful that he has 43 postseason games pitched under his belt (including 12 WS games) which has earned him 2 rings. This experience would be huge for a weak bullpen on a championship caliber team.
Doolittle is a filthy lefty, with not only outstanding pitch control, but also valuable contract control. His obvious downside is his injury history, and lack of secondary pitches, but come October, his rising fastball that he throws up in the zone could be a huge weapon against Seager, Bellinger and Joc in the late innings.
I think getting Soto would be a stretch, and I believe that Doolittle’s health, and Madson’s age would be the reasons why he is slightly out of reach, but Kieboom would be a great piece to come away with, and has every chance to be a top-100 prospect by the end of 2018. From there it comes down to the work done by the A’s scouts on who they value through the rest of the org, as GM’s ranking on other organizations prospects differ greatly than those on MLB.com/BA.
Kieboom, Luis Garcia and Daniel Johnson could be a POTENTIAL even package for both sides. Kieboom and Garcia have high upside, and Johnson is said to be raw but looks like he has some great tools, and could have a Jarrod Dyson ceiling. Johnson would also be a nice add-on piece as he is a local kid from Vallejo.
As I said, I wouldn’t sell Madson and Doo short, but like every player they do have their downfalls. Nats will have to give up one of their top 10 guys, then after that, it comes down to probably the 2 guys who the A’s find most intriguing, so there could quite a few guys they are looking at.
If Billy plays his cards right on the trade market…. The A’s will end up with a truckload of top 100 prospects at the end of the trade deadline …