The Nationals are showing interest in free agent reliever Bud Norris, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). Per the report, the club would still like to stay beneath the luxury tax line with any new additions.
With bullpen issues jumping up right out of the gate this year, the Nationals are understandably looking to find reinforcements. While superstar closer Craig Kimbrel remains available, he’ll still cost quite a bit. Otherwise, the market is largely devoid of appealing options outside of old friend Ryan Madson, who never seemed to be pursuing a contract in earnest.
Norris dealt with some forearm fatigue this spring after signing late. He was cut loose recently by the Blue Jays when he and the team did not see eye to eye on his readiness for MLB action. He had signed a minor-league deal with the Toronto organization — quite a surprising result after he turned in a solid 2018 season.
Working as the Cardinals closer for much of the ’18 campaign, Norris pitched to a 3.59 ERA with 10.5 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 over 57 2/3 innings. He sat at 95 with his four-seam fastball and carried a 12%+ swinging-strike rate for the second consecutive season.
might as well go all in with Kimbrel at this point.
I believe they want to stay below the CBT to reset and CK would put them over. According to Cot’s they are $8,712,495 below.
thats why i said “all in.” going over the tax for Kimbrel would constitute that in the minds of their ownership.
Unfortunately Kimbrel is a closer, and that’s the one bullpen spot the Nats don’t need help in. So signing him will likely result in more problems than it would solve–both financially and in BP morale.
Actually Doolittle has said that he would personally welcome Kimbrel to the club. He is totally fine with Kimbrel signing and pitching innings other than 9th.
Closer is a social construct. Doolittle would be just as effective in the 8th.
I believe that Doo has said that he would have no problem being the setup guy.
It’s a reasonable investment. I’m surprised he doesn’t already have a job.
At this point, Nats are interested in Jonathan Paplebon and Rollie Fingers……
Huston Steet is available too
Speaking of Papelbon, if the Nats do sign Bud, at least they’ll have had some experience with that special kind of “charisma” in the clubhouse.
I bet having Blake Treinan and Felipe (Rivero) Vazquez in the Nats bullpen would look really good right now.
Patience might be the new market inefficiency.
Treinen needed the change of scenery. I don’t believe he would have had any resurgence had he stayed with the Nats.
Trienen saw action over the course of 4 seasons for the Nats — everyone saw he had nasty stuff but couldn’t control it when he was with Washington. Clear change of scenery candidate.
So, he’s your Tyler Glasnow. Understood. It happens.
Felipe was awesome the first year he was up. The Nationals are bad at putting the finishing touches on home-grown arms in general.
Maybe they’ll just shift Luzardo to the bullpen
He was great in the early season for the Cards. Second half he slid quite a bit, but still, he was an effective pitcher and he helped keep the team afloat when our 1 and 2 hitters were batting a collective .150.
If the Nats don’t go over the budget window for Kimbrel then they can kiss this season goodbye
Worried about the luxury tax for this season? So be creative with contract! Signing bonus, incentives, less money year 1 and load later. Sounds like the Nats’ front office is going to phone in this season already. “Hello? Fourth place? Yes, we can do that and stay under the luxury tax.”