The Nationals have signed right-handed reliever Javy Guerra to a minor league contract, according to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. The deal comes with an invitation to spring training.
Guerra could now spend a third straight season with the Nationals, who first acquired him via waivers from the Blue Jays in May 2019. He has since thrown 69 1/3 innings of 4.67 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9. Guerra picked up 15 2/3 innings with the Nats last season and recorded a 4.02 ERA/4.53 FIP with 7.47 K/9 and 4.02 BB/9. Washington outrighted him after that, but he’s now back with the organization.
Guerra, who turned 35 in October, has spent time with a few teams since his major league career began in 2011 with the Dodgers. He owns a respectable 3.73 ERA/3.99 FIP with 7.31 K/9 against 3.58 BB/9 over 296 2/3 frames.
Not a bad guy to have on a minor league deal.
He’s not a bad guy to have in your bullpen, but is a bad guy to have in an important role in your bullpen.
Well said.
He even has a bit of closing experience, but that was back from the olden days when people cared about saves, which the algorithms don’t care about anymore. I wonder what will replace saves on the backs of baseball cards?
“but the analytics dont like Alex Colome, he’s gotta just be really lucky”
The “algorithms” say that a reliever isn’t inherently good just because he gets a lot of saves, which is something that is easily demonstrable without looking at any metrics.
Even though, via analytics, we know more about traditional stats and what information they’re conveying, it’s still fun to look at stuff like saves. At least, I think so. I realize that saves don’t tell you a lot, but it’s still fun when a closer gets 50 saves or rips off like 20 in a row.
@rct
I agree 100%
Did advanced metrics personally slash your tires or something?
I’m fine with saves taking a back seat. It’s pretty to look at, but without specific information (who they face, how many runs does the team have vs other team, are their runners on base when they enter, etc), that’s all it is.
Baseball cards are not really about the numbers, aside from a couple of handpicked stats. They are more neat collectibles then they are sources of overall player value.
Spin rate
Nats need depth. Innings eaters in relief too. A minor deal is fine. Javy likes the Nats and we’re happy to have him. No offense, but he doesn’t really check off any boxes of real need though. Those are hopefully yet to come.
1. A corner OF. Soto will play either RF or LF so options are there. DH in the NL decision will likely be important.
2. Robles needs to not only return to 2019 form but must trend upwards as the Nats CF for years to come.
3. 3B and 2B. Nats have Castro for another year. He can play both. Kieboom needs ABs and playing time. He’s gonna be part of 2021, that’s been made relatively clear. I think Garcia is a perfectly fine platoon piece at 2B. I’m cool with Kieboom/Castro/Garcia at 2B/3B. Trea Turner is a rock at SS.
4. 1B. Again, DH in the NL likely has a role in this decision. Will Zim be back in a platoon role? With DH, I would have loved to see Howie come back but he just retired. Bryant? Seems an expensive proposition. Ozuna in LF and Bryant at 1B/3B? A nice Christmas gift. But too costly I think. Especially if it impacts the Nats ability to give big contracts to Soto/Turner and possibly Max Scherzer.
5. Catching platoon. Realmuto is too expensive to bring in. Just not really how the Nats do it. Bring back the Buffalo? Fans would like it lol.
6. A dependable 4/5th pitcher. Ross/Voth/Fedde can hold it down initially. But that’s relying on a lot of whatifs working out in the Nats favor. Better off getting a legit #4 who will push the top 3 and let the aforementioned 3 fight over the 5th/6th long relief spot. Say, Paxton?
7. Need the bullpen NOT to let down the team for once. They’ve spent money. They’ve invested in relief arms. Closers even. Time for some of it to work from the beginning of the season. It’s important. Bring back Doo? Is his arm there? I dont know honestly.