The defending champion Washington Nationals began their offseason in a holding pattern, awaiting the fates of two of their brightest stars: Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg. What shook out couldn’t have been more on-brand for the pitching-focused Nats. Strasburg re-upped with the only professional organization he’s known, while Rendon joined Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Joe Maddon on an Angels’ team frontrunning for Best Smiles in the AL West, if not the division crown.
Following those twining, superstar sagas, the Nats embarked on a period of relative calm throughout much of December. While waiting in the hallway with the Twins and Braves for Josh Donaldson to make his final contract demands, Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo contented himself with bringing back as much of the championship gang as he could manage. Living legend Howie Kendrick will be back for three-to-five starts per week somewhere in the infield, Yan Gomes returns to block Patrick Corbin sliders and share in the catching duties with Kurt Suzuki, and even mid-season bullpen stabilizer Javy Guerra will get another crack to stick in the bullpen on a minor league deal. Ryan Zimmerman continues to wait in the shadows, certain to re-sign at some point, though how regularly Mr. National will see the field in 2020 is entirely unclear.
This week, however, the Nats grew tired of waiting for Donaldson and moved to add a trio of free agents. Asdrubal Cabrera is the most familiar new/old face. The man most-often charged with protecting Juan Soto in the lineup during 2019’s second half returns to Washington on a one-year, $2.5MM guarantee. Cabrera put up insane numbers in August and September for the Nats (.323/.404/.565). While he bonded nicely with the club in his second stint in the District, the Nats’ can hardly expect Cabrera to put up anything close to the Rendonian line he boasted over the season’s final two months. Somewhere between Kendrick, (presumably) Zimmerman, and top prospect Carter Kieboom, Cabrera represents a capable option to gather loose change at-bats between first, second, and third base.
But the Nationals added a rival to that infield mix as well, inking Starlin Castro to a somewhat surprising two-year, $12MM deal. Ten years into his big league career, Castro turns just 30-years-old in March while carrying an uninspiring .280/.319/.414 career line. The Nats plan to let Castro have second base until Kieboom or somebody else takes it from him, and while he fits an organization ethos that trusts veteran contributors more than the average big league team, it’s hard to get too excited about a guy whose only real elite skill has been volume. He doesn’t strike out a ton, but he won’t take walks, and neither his speed nor power elicit much awe.
Castro did absolutely rip left-handed pitching in 2019, and in the right light, Castro’s home/road, left/right and 1sthalf/2ndhalf splits can all point to a player who deserves more credit than I’m giving him. For instance, he hit .302/.334/.558 in the second half and .286/.332/.447 away from Marlins Park. Together, Cabrera and Castro give the Nats two relatively similar players whose contributions will have to be monitored, like your favorite sublet, on a month-to-month basis.
Perhaps the most unassailable move made in this past week, funny enough, is the addition of spin-rate-savant Will Harris. Nats’ fans no doubt already hold a fondness for Harris after he surrendered the World Series winning home run to Kendrick late in game seven. Years of playoff disappointment prior to 2019 should have those in the District well-prepared to look beyond the volatility of playoff results and appreciate Harris for what he is: one of the best relievers in the league. After all, Astros’ manager AJ Hinch is hardly a doofus, and quibble if you will about his decision to let $324MM man Gerrit Cole languish away in the bullpen while Harris and Kendrick put the foul pole to work – but his decision to pitch Harris in that moment was entirely defensible. That he wanted Harris on the hill should further brighten the hearts of Nats’ fans, even if the three-year, $24MM deal given him at age-35 might cause some seat-squirming. Still, this is a guy with a 2.36 ERA/2.99 FIP over the last five seasons, and he insures the Nats’ bullpen against further wear-and-tear on Sean Doolittle or stagnation from hard-throwing righty Tanner Rainey.
Donaldson could still find himself suiting up next to Trea Turner on the left side of the Nats’ infield, but Rizzo has historically stuck to his number with position players, and if Donaldson’s demands have stretched beyond his comfortability, don’t expect the disciplined Rizzo to panic. Cabrera, Castro and Harris may not be the cavalry Nats’ fans expected to ride in to defend their first ever championship, but they’re here to help all the same. The question is, do they?
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“Angels’ team frontrunning for Best Smiles in the AL West” BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Best line ever. So accurate. Plus, all you can do is smile when you’re losing 13-9 every game
Why would they smile while losing 13-9?
ANOTHER GAME FOR MILOSSSSSSS
Tennis anyone?
Nice
I haven’t seen that episode in forever. Thanks.
Too good!
Another bullpen addition or two they could be headed back to the World Series with a little luck …
The Nationals need Josh Donaldson.
Not for that ampint of money. No where to put him when his defense starts to diminish in a year or two.
$10 if you can name WSH’s OD 1B.
Howie Kendrick!
Lyle Overbay
You put him on first.
Even if that is true. I would love to see who they bat cleanup with Kendrick at 1B. Whew!
Supposedly the DH will be in the National league in two years…
That would be where he goes
I am so over hearing about Donaldson
I’m part of the two percent of the Starlin Castro vote.
Garbage.
How on earth is he a 4-time all-star??
Just goes to show the advantage that playing for the Cubs or Yankees gives you in that process.
End the fan vote now!
He’s had All-Star seasons. He just hasn’t been consistent.
The vote isn’t as bad as the picks. The “every team has to have an All-Star” rule has totally destroyed the value of the designation.
I haven’t watched an All-Star game since Chan Ho Park threw that 72 MPH pipe shot fastball to Cal Ripken and Bud “PED Dealer” Selig halted the game in the sixth inning to make a speech. A-Rod kicked up his heels too.
Bulls…
That wasn’t as bad as the year they ended the game in a tie. If you’re worried about injuries, vote more BP reserves in.
NFL reallly needs to fix the tie bs too, there’s nothing worse in sports.
About a billion soccer fans beg to differ
It does not show anything. His career stats have zero to do with any particular individual season or in particular first half of a season.
Taken as a whole many could over look these acquisitions as panicking, giving up, or just mediocre adds to fill holes….
But these a far more targeted specialized adds
Castro-
The problem is not whether or not Keiboom will be a good MLB middle infielder. the problem is when. Castro gives the Nats a high floor and potential trade deadline piece when Carter is ready.. Most likely these two will split time during the transition.
Cabby-
This is both a Starter/Utility/Bench Bat signing. No matter what the Nats do the rest of the off Season and Spring, Cabby has a Role he can fill on this team. He will not be hurting for ABs
Will Harris-
This is a case of the metrics matching the eye for Rizzo. The Above mentioned pin rate no doubt is a big part of what caught Rizzo’s eye. But what he saw from Harris both through his scouts and in person told him that not only is this pitcher consistent but he is in solid physical shape and a low injury risk. MLB has many examples of pitchers who pitched well late into their 30s and even 40s in a few cases. Harris seems to fit this profile
To be more specific I’ll gave the Cabrera signing a B+, the Castro signing a B, and the Harris signing a A-. Overall the Cabrera signing gave the Nats a nice switch hitting bat that adds versatility to a lineup with 6 RH hitters, and is probably a plan B for Donaldson. I find the Castro signing interesting. Castro is a decent player, and he probably plays 2B this season, and 3B for them next season once Kieboom is ready. Good veteran pickup. For the Harris signing, I’ve been a big fan of his for years. He’s been quite durable throughout the years, but I’m always eerie about giving multiyear deals relievers in their mid to late 30’s. Great job by the Nats on these signings.
And they’ll get Josh Donaldson soon.
Until he gets ingured. Because of age and history hisnasking price not worth it.
He looked pretty healthy last Season….
I’m in the minority here but ascav and starlin are both terrifying bench options but harris’ age scares me.
dont know how you can grade Harris higher here based off value. he’s pretty good and all, but he got a pretty hefty guarantee for his age and position.
I would have loved Harris on a 2-year deal, but 3 is a little sketchy.
agreed. i think he’s better them he gets credit for, but that’s too much on a 3 year term for his age.
*then
**than
Because of his metrics…
That is how you should be earning your salary, by what you do..
I have two more words for you
Spin Rate
Nats fans acting like Castro is Jeter or something
Based on their middling results in Miami?
Castro is probably a better defensive SS.
Castro is a lousy defensive shortstop with average range and arm for the position as well. That is why starting with the Cubs he was moved to second and neither the Yankees nor the Marlins ever considered him to be a shortstop and the Nationals obviously agree that Castro is not a shortstop
Combined offense for the 2 is 40 HR and 140 ribs. Not rendon I get it but good players.
Had not ever heard the expression “loose change at-bats” before, but I like it.
Nice work, TC.
I have given the following grades to each player resign/signee:
Cabrera: B
Castro: C
Harris: A
Now I will delve into why I assigned each player those grades. First the reason why I have the Cabrera resigning a b is he’s a Howie Kendrick esq player, he can hit and field at a decent clip. For Castro I have him a C, you don’t know version of him you’re going to get. You’re either going to get the meh Miami Castro or you’re going to get the New York/ Chicago Castro or a mixture of both. For Harris I have him an A, as he has done pretty well the last few seasons, I know relievers are very volatile but I think Harris if he keeps performing at the rate he has, that contract may be a steal.
There’s no way the Harris contract turns out to be a “steal”. Paying anyone $8M to pitch 60-70 innings per year is far from a steal (that’s over $100K per inning). At age 35, a 3 year deal is quite risky. The best possible outcome is that he ‘earns’ his contract with a sub 2.50 ERA, but I just don’t see any scenario where this contract looks like a steal regardless of his performance. With that said, the Nats BP is definitely better for signing him.
These recent moves the Nationals have made aren’t the most sexy but they have added a lot of depth. Cabrera and S.Marte arent the most attractive starting options but as bench pieces they look much better. The Nationals might have one of the top 3 benches in baseball.
I feel like the Nationals need to pick up one more quality bullpen arm but if Hudson can keep throwing the way he has and Doolittle can bounce back, they might still have a squad that is somewhere in the top 15 range. It doesnt take much to improve from all the blown saves from last season.
If the Nationals sign Donaldson as well, the Braves will be in for a struggle. I know the Nationals had Rendon so technically Donaldson would be a down grade but Donaldson plus an upgraded bullpen and bench equals a deeper, scarier Nationals team that might be more consistent because they can rest their key pieces and the players covering them off the bench arent scrubs either.
The Nationals still haven’t addressed their biggest hole, third base, unless they plan on putting Castro there. Rendon is a special star and it’ll be pretty much impossible to replace all that he’s done for the Nats, but I still like this team heading into 2020. Would be fun to see Yankees vs. Nationals in the World Series, for sure.
The arrogance. It never yields with you guys.
Not to overlook who a is the 4th and 5th starters on the Nats — at this point its Atlanta – Mets – Nats – Philly – Miami
How would the Nationals Address the hole at 3rd base when their target has not made a decision yet?
Oh yea the backup plan…. which I believe they did the person who would man third regularly as things stand now would be Cabby… not flashy but functional and a switch hitter to boot.. One Donaldson signs your comment may have more weight.. but for now that is spelled wait
Cabrera gets a B? Isn’t he like a hundred?
34 is how old he is fro the entire 2020 season. oh by the way last year with DC Cabby slashed .323/.404/.565 in 124 ABs not to mention 40-R, 7-0TB, 6-2B. 1-3B, 6HR and 40 RBIs (that translates to close to one RBI for every three ABs.
Even with the dreadful start with the Rangers last year his season total was .260/.342/.441
Granted I like him off the bench better but he (like a wrote to a Cubs fan above) is NOT chopped Liver