Closer Watch: 2017

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

I grew up an Expos fan because they were my first t-ball team and I thought I should follow them.  I watched all my favorite players get traded away because the Expos were broke.  Larry Walker, Delino DeShields, Marquis Grissom, Pedro Martinez, etc, etc.  Baseball in DC has been a welcomed change.

[Ray D]

We thought ol' Joe Danzansky had a deal.

Ol' Joe was a great man, a great friend of DC baseball ....  but he just didn't have the funding.

[welch]

Read Jim Brosnan, "Pennant Race" for the life of a relief pitcher, as of 1961. Led the Reds in saves with 16, and won 10 games. (For Pirates fans of that "era": Brosnan was afraid of pitching to the Pirates, the World Champs, especially in Forbes Field. Afraid most of the season, anyway. Includes the story of "Don Hoak counter-attacks the boo-birds")

[Squab]

I'd love to see us sign Blanton and Ziegler.

Kelley
Glover
Ziegler
Solis
Perez
Trienen
Blanton

and then picking up someone at the deadline if necessary.

I don't care who pitches the ninth inning until September at least. I'd rather go by matchups/committee. My bet is that Glover will take it over when he doesn't have a torn hip.

[varoadking]

What happened to AAron Barrett after we released him?  Is he back with the Chiefs?

[Slateman]

What happened to AAron Barrett after we released him?  Is he back with the Chiefs?

Free agent. He broke his elbow last July

[Truconfidence]

What happened to AAron Barrett after we released him?  Is he back with the Chiefs?

Asked for his release, he is FA.

[whytev]

I grew up an Expos fan because they were my first t-ball team and I thought I should follow them.  I watched all my favorite players get traded away because the Expos were broke.  Larry Walker, Delino DeShields, Marquis Grissom, Pedro Martinez, etc, etc.  Baseball in DC has been a welcomed change.

Same, brother. Same.

[imref]

I'm making a guess/prediction that we end up with Sean Doolittle from Oakland for a minor leaguer like Stevenson or Ward.

[Minty Fresh]

One mediocre pitcher, one bust, and one unknown...

Only problem with laughing about that is that it seems to be the extent of what we had....     

[varoadking]

Only problem with laughing about that is that it seems to be the extent of what we had....     

True dat...

[Slateman]

I'm making a guess/prediction that we end up with Sean Doolittle from Oakland for a minor leaguer like Stevenson or Ward.

So we're getting the reliever with shoulder issues? Awesome.

[expos1994]

I grew up an Expos fan because they were my first t-ball team and I thought I should follow them.  I watched all my favorite players get traded away because the Expos were broke.  Larry Walker, Delino DeShields, Marquis Grissom, Pedro Martinez, etc, etc.  Baseball in DC has been a welcomed change.

I grew up an Expos fan because the minor league team that was an hour's drive from my hometown was an Expos affiliate. (the Burlington Bees). My mom used to go there for business 3-4 times a week. She often dropped me off at the ballpark and picked me back up after the game. I felt an allegiance to them because I was a fan of the low-A ball affiliate lol. But also because they had some exciting young players at the time. (All the guys you mentioned plus Cliff Floyd and Rondell White)

[Rasta]

I thought the White Sox signed Greg Holland but it was Derek Holland. LOL.

[imref]

Per MLBTR, various reports have Zeigler receiving multiple offers, likely starting at 2/$17 million with potentially a 3 year deal or 3rd year option.  That seems like a pretty fair deal given his numbers the last few years (2.05 ERA, 68.1% ground-ball rate last year).

[GuyFromCO]

Per MLBTR, various reports have Zeigler receiving multiple offers, likely starting at 2/$17 million with potentially a 3 year deal or 3rd year option.  That seems like a pretty fair deal given his numbers the last few years (2.05 ERA, 68.1% ground-ball rate last year).

Are you saying you think the Nats are one of those teams? Haven't really been mentioned with regards to Z, so far. Stealth Rizzo though.

[zimm_da_kid]

Are you saying you think the Nats are one of those teams? Haven't really been mentioned with regards to Z, so far. Stealth Rizzo though.

There is the AZ connection.  Also Ziegler is just flat out good.  Factor in how affordable he is for how dominant he is, and I don't see how a two year deal could be bad.  I'd offer along the lines of 2 yr/$20M max or 3 yr/22M

[imref]

We haven't been mentioned as being in on ziegler

[comish4lif]

What happened to AAron Barrett after we released him?  Is he back with the Chiefs?

Chiefs?

[varoadking]

Chiefs?

http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t552

[Ray D]

I thought I read he was released because he asked to be released.  So I doubt he's back with the Chiefs.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

from MLBTR:

DEC. 16: FanRag’s Jon Heyman and the New York Post’s Joel Sherman both hear that Ziegler is close to a decision (Twitter links). Sherman notes that the Yankees and Mets haven’t been in serious contact with Ziegler’s camp since the Winter Meetings, so he’s likely headed elsewhere. Heyman relays word of a team that has yet to be linked to Ziegler remaining in the mix. (The “mystery team” strikes again!)

C'mon, Stealth Rizzo!

[mk6lazarchick]

Us and Miami were linked to him earlier today.

[comish4lif]

http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t552

The Chiefs don't sign or acquire players.

[varoadking]

The Chiefs don't sign or acquire players.

Yes, I know.  I thought perhaps I had missed him being signed back to a minor league deal by the Nationals, and, with your question, that you didn't know who the Chiefs were.