The Nationals have reinstated right-hander Stephen Strasburg from the 10-day disabled list and brought back first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 60-day DL, the team announced. To make room for those two, Washington optioned righties Wander Suero and Trevor Gott to Triple-A.
Strasburg’s back after missing upward of a month with shoulder inflammation, and his return will be a much-needed one for a Washington club with ground to make up in the NL East. The Nationals went just 48-48 before the All-Star break and currently sit five games out of a wild-card spot and 5.5 behind the division-leading Phillies. Part of the problem has been a lack of high-end starters behind ace Max Scherzer. Gio Gonzalez and Jeremy Hellickson have both pitched well, though they haven’t turned in front-line performances. Strasburg, 30, has done that throughout his career, and he managed a 3.46 ERA/3.58 FIP with 10.6 K/9 and 2.12 BB/9 in 80 2/3 innings before going on the DL.
Zimmerman has been out since May 12 because of a back injury, and he struggled prior to landing on the shelf. After reviving his career in 2017, the 33-year-old opened this season with a .217/.280/.409 line in 125 plate appearances. His DL placement opened the door for the addition of fellow veteran first baseman Mark Reynolds, whom the Nats selected from Triple-A Syracuse when they lost Zimmerman. The minor league signing of Reynolds has paid dividends for Washington, as he has slashed a splendid .291/.361/.573 with 10 home runs (and a 10-RBI game) over 133 PAs. It’s now unclear how the Nationals will divvy up playing time between Zimmerman and Reynolds, two righty-swingers.
Thank goodness Zimmerman and his .200 average, waning power, and bad defense are back!
He will be back on the DL in no time
About a month and a half of PAs and people forget his season he had last year.
Do people pay attention to games or batting average more?
Sadly, the hits and RBIs he collected last year do not count in this year’s games.
The past means nothing to the current season.
Also, he only had one or two good months.
The Nats have to go with the best players now. Theyve played themselves into a corner and they have to start winning. They have two guys in Reynolds and Matt Adams who have been money. Both primarily play first base. No room for Zim if he doesn’t produce immediately.
The only reason to activate Zimmerman is to tank for a better draft pick.
Unless he was hurt back in April as a reason for that slash line.
His slash line from last year at least warrants a look. Not to mention he is still under contract for (i think) two more years. Have to hope he can turn it around.
“They have two guys in Reynolds and Matt Adams who have been money. Both primarily play first base.”
The problem is: the Nats have four players for one position. You don’t need Murphy and Adams, Reynolds and Zimmerman. Pick two for a 1B platoon and use the other two roster spots for something they actually need.
Not sure what youre talking about. Murphy plays second base. Adams and Reynolds can both play other positions so they will get some starts there. If Zim isnt producing he needs to be relegated to pinch hitting. The way their roster is structured right now, all their needs are filled. Now they just need to win games.
“Murphy plays second base.”
Last year Murphy was not only the worst defensive second baseman in the NL he was the worst defensive player at any position. And that was before his microfracture surgery. I watch the Nats every day and know that they have been trotting him out to 2B even though he no longer belongs there, if he ever did. And he will be starting at 2B again tonight.
“Adams and Reynolds can both play other positions so they will get some starts there.”
I suppose Reynolds could spell Rendon once a week. Adams would appear to be behind Eaton, Soto and Harper for a corner OF spot. Not a very efficient use of roster spots. Face it, if you have one of Reynolds/Zimmerman you really don’t need the other.
“The way their roster is structured right now, all their needs are filled.”
Need better production from their C and at least one serviceable BP arm.
“Now they just need to win games.”
Picky, picky.
If its between keeping Murphys bat in the lineup or having better defense the answer is obvious (at least to me). Zim is under contract and they arent just gonna let Reynolds go so its beating a dead horse to complain about those two roster spots. There is always room for upgrades to a teams roster but when you break down the roster they have a body for every role.
Also, their bullpen is fine. Kelley has turned it around. Grace has looked good. Herrera is money. Kintzler is decent. Doolittle might be the best closer in baseball. Round it out with Madson and Miller, plus the prospect of Koda Glover returning, and the pen is absolutely not something the Nats should be using prospects on. Starting pitching and obviously catcher are the areas most needing improvement. For somebody that claims to watch the Nats a lot youre strikingly uneducated on their situation.
“Also, their bullpen is fine.”
It isn’t fine. Kinzler, Madison and Doolittle and Solis have all hit the DL this year. At the time that each of them hit the DL they were on pace to throw career highs in IP—which may well be the reason that they were injured. Were you aware of how many IP each has thrown?
“Doolittle might be the best closer in baseball.”
Well, he’s certainly the best closer on the DL. Not sure how that helps the Nats.
“Plus the prospect of Koda Glover returning . . . “
Be nice if Glover could finally stay healthy and contribute at the MLB level. Far as I can recall, the last time Glover appeared in a MLB game was last April or May. Great if he does, and an unexpected bonus, but not the kind of odds I’d hang my hat on.
“For someone who claims to watch the Nats a lot youre (sic) strikingly uneducated on their situation.”
Really, what have I missed? You mistake disagreement with ignorance.
“Kelly has turned it around, Grace has looked good. Herrera is money. Kintzler is decent. . . . Round it out with Madison and Miller . . . “
That’s your analysis of the Nats BP? I could get that sort of superficial review from a sports talk radio host, a ten year old or the drunk at the next barstool. If you wanna disagree with me—fine, but bring more than this lame act next time.
But they owe Z big money until the end of next year but alas his body is breaking down. What to do?
I love me some Zim but you gotta eat that money and move along TBH. Guys with his skill set are cheap considering what they paid for Adams and Reynolds and are getting in return.
The Nat’s are one of the most underperforming teams over the past 3 years. They have a Cy Young Pitcher, a once in a lifetime player in Harper, and they just seem to hang around .500 slightly above at times but there’s never been that “fear” factor. If I was the Nats GM/Owner, I would auction off Strasburg, Scherzer, Harper & start over. Harper is NOT resigning with the NATs so all you get is a few extra draft picks which have less than a 50% chance of making it to the MLB 5 years from now. You could get 10-15 with 3 to 5 being top picks for these guys and you will be good again in a few years. I know its painful but Detroit is in year 2 of a 4 year turnaround and things are looking good on the farm. So what if you are 5.5 games out? You get in, then what? “The anything can happen stuff comes out”. Nats can’t beat the Dodgers, Milwaukee or Cubs so why go through the motions? Baltimore tried that crap and look at them now? They got 1 good prospect back and 4 big question marks. Two years ago, they would have received two top prospects. Time to face reality and sell like there’s no tomorrow or you will become the Baltimore O’s!
I tend to agree
That’s not the message Washington’s management wants to send. If there is a shot to make the playoffs any team would go for it rather than sell because they will probably lose. Playoffs=more games=more money. Nationals held on to Dusty for too long, that is why they never won a WS.
Once in a lifetime player? Get real, dude. Harper has had two great seasons, a bunch of average ones (which never live up to his hype), and he’s been garbage this year. Mike Trout is a once in a lifetime player, Bryce Harper is hyped like one and hasn’t proven it.
Totally agree. Most people look at Harper through rose-colored glasses. If you take away his red hot April he suddenly looks more like Chris Davis than anyone would ever admit. He can still turn it around this year, but if I’m the Nats FO I extend Harper the QO after the season and leave it at that. That monster contract everyone still talks about is a solid maybe at this point…..at best.
Stras and Scherzer both have huge contracts. Good luck auctioning that off without eating 2/3 of the salary.
Harper would be a three-month rental at most. The return for that is minimal, maybe some mid-level prospects, plus you’d have to deal with a team that needs him for the home stretch. Who might that be? The A’s? Indians? Everyone else is set.
Under what logic can the “Nats not beat the Dodgers, Milwaukee or Cubs”? You’re kidding, right? There is no team with a better 1-2 in the NL than Scherzer and Strasburg.
They are playing terribly but are still only 5.5 games behind Philly (not to mention a better run differential), and they just got Strasburg back. Worst case, they hold this year, lose Harper to FA, and then have an OF of Soto, Robles, and Eaton in 2019 along with guys like Turner, Rendon, Kieboom, Scherzer, and Strasburg along with the outfield I just mentioned.
Comparing them to the position Baltimore is in is ridiculous. They aren’t even remotely close. Baltimore needed a full rebuild two years ago and didn’t. That’s why they are in the spot they are in.
I can’t think of why the nats should sell
Conveniently you reference the Orioles and not the Royals, who took a similar approach and have a new banner to show for it.
Question for Martinez…. why is Michael A not in the lineup lately? Best defender of the 4 and has been hitting like .340 or something since June and 2nd in the league in stolen bases. I’d be upset with Martinez if I were a nats fan
I’m gonna guess Scherzer saw something in Strassburgs delivery or something, and was just trying to be helpful.
Apparently Strassburg didn’t want to hear it.