The Nationals’ potential agreement with free-agent righty Bud Norris has fallen through, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The organization felt that the 34-year-old veteran was as much as a month away from MLB readiness, and the team’s preference is to find bullpen help that is more immediately available.
Norris was in camp with the Blue Jays on a minor league contract and received a $100K retention bonus to remain in the organization’s minor league ranks beyond the end of Spring Training. However, the two side agreed to a release last week due to what appears to be similar circumstances; Norris reportedly felt ready to join the Jays’ big league club sooner rather than later, but the Toronto organization wanted him to continue building arm strength in extended Spring Training.
With his hopes of signing in D.C. dashed, Norris will remain on the free-agent market as he seeks a different opportunity. With two clubs deeming him unready for near-term MLB action, it seems likely that he’ll need to build up strength somewhere before he ultimately returns to a Major League mound. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported in early April that Norris, who averaged 94.6 mph on his fastball in 2018, was sitting in the 90-91 mph during workouts.
If and when Norris does work up to his previous velocity levels, he should be able to help out the majority of big league bullpens. While his career as a starter took a southward turn in 2016, he’s posted strong results over the past two seasons as a reliever. Dating back to Opening Day 2017, Norris has a 3.91 ERA with 10.6 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 1.20 HR/9 and a 44 percent ground-ball rate. He’s also posted a swinging-strike rate north of 12 percent over that two-year span — easily a career best — and last season also set a new highwater mark with a hefty 35.9 percent opponents’ chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone.
Braves?
Well that’s different.
You know it is bad when even the Nationals don’t take a flyer on you.
Or you know the Nationals are bad when they’re attempting to sign Bud Norris.
No wonder Harper waived goodbye to that gas station bullpen in Washington.
Yeah because clearly the Nationals don’t spend money and tried to improve the roster year after year
What’s wrong with Norris? He was pretty good for the Cardinals last year.
Yeah, the Phillies bullpen looks stellar – good luck Bryce.
CLE or LAD should be in on Norris.
Cubs!!
“the team’s preference is to find bullpen help that is more immediately available.”
If only there was an elite closer sitting out on the free agent market…
I think there is one….braig? Jag? Mag? What IS his name?
It’s obviously Jim Johnson
Eric Gagne?
Yeah, if only…
Santiago Casilla?
Yeah, but like Norris, it’s going to be a while before Kimbrel can get back in shape after missing Spring Training and these first couple weeks of the season. At least Norris got some legitimate work in during Spring Training.
They can always try to sign Phil Hughes. He’s probably in the same boat, ready-wise, but the Padres are still paying him $7.25M, so he’ll probably work cheap.
Bud Noris failed himself. Based on his speed velocity decrease from last year, it’s clearly he is not ready for major league action and should be wrapping up his workouts in the meantime. Shame on him.
golly, you sure told him!
I tried to take the common sense approach, Pinky.
Sigarland Skeeters could use some bullpen help…
Cashman calling Bud now.
Maybe he consumed too much Bud Norris. Not ready for prime-time player!
The Mariners should add him
How bad do you have to look to not seem as ready to pitch as Trevor Rosenthal?
A month from now: “MLB-ready Norris signs with DC to provide the immediate bullpen help they’re looking for.”
After last night in New York the Twins should be calling him every 5 minutes.
He prefers to be called “Bud.”
(rimshot)
NATS ARE A MESS IN THE BP ….
They should have just signed him; they’re going to NEED MORE than 1, 2, 3, or 4 arms before this season is Done.
So how does adding someone who’s even less effective help them again?
Being less effective than Rosenthal is almost statistically impossible at this point.
He will be effective again in a month or so, at which point the Nats are still going to need bullpen help.
Mets should take a flyer on him on a minor league deal.
Did anyone read the article? He’s obviously out of shape.
How does he help anyone right now?
Did you read the comment? He said minor league deal.
Guessing the cubs would take anybody.
Don’t worry they will turn it around. You are always so negative about them. Some fan you are.
Themed is an old fart 80 year old that craps his pants because he is too senile to remember where the bathroom is.
I assume he’s a bitter cub fan. He only comments on cubs articles. Idk don’t really care.
Wasn’t Even keeping himself in Shape.
Rangers should pick him up
Even if that’s true, with the state of the Nats’ bullpen on what is supposed to be a contending team, shouldn’t they still want to sign Norris to get what they can out of him later on, and then they can still continue seeking more immediate bullpen help?
Bud reaches high for the stars. But besides that… They already have Barraclough whom has a career ERA of 3.17. Matt Grace career ERA 3.73. Justin Miller ERA 4.50. Rosenthal who’s career even with a 2019 ERA stat of 72.0 has a 3.20 ERA. Joe Ross 4.08. Tony Sipp ERA 3.73. Finally Suero with a 3.96 ERA.
Point is that they DO NOT NEED another average reliever with a negative WAR and 3.91 ERA ..
They need a guy that has a 2.3 WAR with a career 1.91 ERA. That’s what wins ball games. Please just work out a 3 year deal already and pay the low end luxury tax. Those $15 beers and $9 hot dogs would feel a lot better when were winning the big games year round.