Fernando Rodney is a unique case. Sure, he’s pretty well-removed from his days of being a top 10 closer. He’s not someone who should be relied upon that heavily.
And yet that’s precisely what Dave Martinez did when the Nationals signed him to a minor-league contract in June and purchased him from AAA Fresno shortly thereafter. Continue reading “Fernando Rodney Deserves an Apology”
The 2020 free agent class is strong. In regards to the top available player, depending on who you ask, you’ll likely hear one of three responses: Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg (more on him soon), or Anthony Rendon. Continue reading “Anthony Rendon: All Alone Among Position Players”
Entering 2019, the Nationals’ outfield depth was a little thin. Juan Soto could’ve theoretically had a sophomore slump, Adam Eaton was an injury risk, Victor Robles was only a rookie, and Michael A. Taylor — need I say more?
Things went from bad to worse when Soto was sent to the 10-day injured list with back spasms in early May.
The patchwork solution was signing Gerardo Parra. But what was a backup outfielder who hit below .200 in over a month in San Francisco really going to fix? Continue reading “What Does Tomorrow Hold for Gerardo Parra?”
When asked who the Nationals’ best hitter was this season, most people will say Anthony Rendon. Some might argue for Juan Soto, based on plate discipline and power-enhanced upside. But very few will skip to Howie Kendrick. Perhaps that should be rethought. Continue reading “Howie Going to Handle Kendrick?”
How many good relievers did the Nationals have prior to the trade deadline? In many people’s eyes, the answer was one: Sean Doolittle. Well, Mike Rizzo did not rest on his laurels, acquiring three solid bullpen pieces at the end of July. Two of them (Roenis Elias and Hunter Strickland) are controllable through 2021, but the team also added one veteran two-month rental. Continue reading “Will the Nationals Be Lustin’ for Daniel Hudson?”
There’s no way around it: Jeremy Hellickson had a very forgettable season. After a solid 2018 campaign (3.45 ERA in 19 starts), the right-handed hurler nearly doubled that output (6.23 ERA in nine appearances — eight starts) in 2019. Continue reading “A Brief Moment to Dwell on Jeremy Hellickson”
Before free agency opened, Yan Gomes was arguably Washington’s most difficult decision. The team had to choose between paying $9 million to keep the timeshare catcher or forfeiting $1 million to get him off the roster. The Nationals decided to cut ties with Gomes, handing primary duties behind the plate to Kurt Suzuki — who became the personal catcher for Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Anibal Sanchez. Continue reading “Yan Gomes No Longer the Metronome Behind the Plate?”
