2018 bullpen

[hotshot]

Sammy is fine when he's not pitching every 2nd game.

He's often in to only face one man. And he can't be used the next night?

[Dave301]

@JonHeyman 7m7 minutes ago
breaking: Nats are on the verge of trading for Kelvin Herrera

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

@JonHeyman 7m7 minutes ago
breaking: Nats are on the verge of trading for Kelvin Herrera

Wowza.  Our bullpen is now looking very, very good.  Doo will remain in the 9th.  Herrera likely becomes the 8th inning guy.  Madsen moves down to the 7th.  Kintzler is now a middle relief guy.  I like this mix. 

[Dave301]

Wowza.  Our bullpen is now looking very, very good.  Doo will remain in the 9th.  Herrera likely becomes the 8th inning guy.  Madsen moves down to the 7th.  Kintzler is now a middle relief guy.  I like this mix.

It's official:

@JeffPassan11m11 minutes ago
Source: The Kansas City Royals have traded closer Kelvin Herrera to the Washington Nationals. @JonHeyman said it was close.

@JeffPassan4m4 minutes ago
Here's what the Nationals get in Kelvin Herrera: a fastball that's 95-99 mph, a plus slider, a changeup that when it's on is goofy, pinpoint control and late-inning experience.

The Nats jumped the market to get one of the best RP available. He's a free agent after this season.

 

@JonHeyman2m2 minutes ago
royals getting Perkins, morel and Gutierrez in deal for Herrera

[spidernat]

Wowza.  Our bullpen is now looking very, very good.  Doo will remain in the 9th.  Herrera likely becomes the 8th inning guy.  Madsen moves down to the 7th.  Kintzler is now a middle relief guy.  I like this mix. 

I love it.

[DPMOmaha]

 

All those relievers were speculated before they happened. The bigger surprise was that they got BOTH Doolittle and Madson. Both were speculated individually. The bigger surprise was Kintzler since they'd already done the move with the A's.

I think they go get Herrera in June, fwiw.

[imref]

PM me tomorrow’s powerball numbers please.

[aBaltoNat]

PM me tomorrow’s powerball numbers please.

Right?!?

[mixedmutt]

What good is relief pitching if we are already losing when they enter the game? Just traded away 2 of our top 20 prospects, both position players, one IF, one OF, one a switch hitter and both projected to be solid top of the order speed guys who can actually get on base....for a rental reliever who probably won't even get a chance to pitch in October. GREAT TRADE. This is definitely a recipe for long term success!

I mean, I know these weren't superstar prospects, but our farm is pretty bleak, and we just made it all the more barren for a rental reliever when it's looking like we will be lucky just to play in the WC game.

[NatsAllThe Way]

What good is relief pitching if we are already losing when they enter the game? Just traded away 2 of our top 20 prospects, both position players, one IF, one OF, one a switch hitter and both projected to be solid top of the order speed guys who can actually get on base....for a rental reliever who probably won't even get a chance to pitch in October. GREAT TRADE. This is definitely a recipe for long term success!

I mean, I know these weren't superstar prospects, but our farm is pretty bleak, and we just made it all the more barren for a rental reliever when it's looking like we will be lucky just to play in the WC game.

Gotta think the offense will pick up at some point soon.  I mean, if everyone was hitting anywhere near their career averages we'd have like 10 more wins.

[Slateman]

Gotta think the offense will pick up at some point soon.  I mean, if everyone was hitting anywhere near their career averages we'd have like 10 more wins.

The offense is picking up.

We gave up utility players and talented, but raw arm for a guy who can close and solidify a bullpen that has exactly two pitchers with an ERA under 3.25 right now.

Every year we hear that the Nationals have a "bleak" farm system. That "bleak" farm system just produced a guy OPSing over .900 and continues to enable deals like this.

[mixedmutt]

That "bleak" farm system just produced a guy OPSing over .900 and continues to enable deals like this.

For how much longer?  We haven't had a top 10 pick since 2011 when we took Rendon, all signs point to the Lerners being cashed out, it'll take every dollar available just to try to keep this group together.

I guess I just don't want to accept that this will probably be the last time for a decade that we have a shot in the post season, can't blame Rizzo for going all in when we all know whats waiting around the corner. And since we won't commit to a proper rebuild it's going to be ugly for a long, long time. And we got extremely lucky with Soto, he was signed as an international free agent, hardly the result of our strong organizational foundation...and HAS to perform that well, without fail, just for us to break even with the loss of Harper.

[Slateman]

For how much longer?  We haven't had a top 10 pick since 2011 when we took Rendon, all signs point to the Lerners being cashed out, it'll take every dollar available just to try to keep this group together.

I guess I just don't want to accept that this will probably be the last time for a decade that we have a shot in the post season, can't blame Rizzo for going all in when we all know whats waiting around the corner. And since we won't commit to a proper rebuild it's going to be ugly for a long, long time. And we got extremely lucky with Soto, he was signed as an international free agent, hardly the result of our strong organizational foundation...and HAS to perform that well, without fail, just for us to break even with the loss of Harper.

Don't have a top 10 pick!?!? THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WIN BALL GAMES!!!

Learners cashed out? 100 million dollars is coming off the books after this season. They'll have plenty of cash.

Soto wasn't luck. That's called scouting. Just like turning Steven Souza Jr and Travis Ott into an every day starting SS and decent pitching prospect.

[tomterp]

For how much longer?  We haven't had a top 10 pick since 2011 when we took Rendon, all signs point to the Lerners being cashed out, it'll take every dollar available just to try to keep this group together.

I guess I just don't want to accept that this will probably be the last time for a decade that we have a shot in the post season, can't blame Rizzo for going all in when we all know whats waiting around the corner. And since we won't commit to a proper rebuild it's going to be ugly for a long, long time. And we got extremely lucky with Soto, he was signed as an international free agent, hardly the result of our strong organizational foundation...and HAS to perform that well, without fail, just for us to break even with the loss of Harper.

The scouting org would argue good vs lucky, but Soto's only our 2nd best outfield prospect, behind Robles. 

[zimm_da_kid]

What good is relief pitching if we are already losing when they enter the game? Just traded away 2 of our top 20 prospects, both position players, one IF, one OF, one a switch hitter and both projected to be solid top of the order speed guys who can actually get on base....for a rental reliever who probably won't even get a chance to pitch in October. GREAT TRADE. This is definitely a recipe for long term success!

I mean, I know these weren't superstar prospects, but our farm is pretty bleak, and we just made it all the more barren for a rental reliever when it's looking like we will be lucky just to play in the WC game.

with an offense of eaton, turner, harper, rendon, soto, murphy, adams/zimm, severino i'll take my chances and feel confident that our offense will come around.  You're writing off murphy and harper way too fast.  Turner hasn't even really gotten going.  We just got a great deal for a great reliever.  Anyone that gives two flying freaks about guitierrez or Perkins is flat out wrong.

[dcpatti]

The scouting org would argue good vs lucky, but Soto's only our 2nd best outfield prospect, behind Robles.

Considering the Nats wouldn't go near the DR for years after "the troubles" and now they're finding guys like Robles, Soto, Suero, Rodriguez, Difo, etc, well, that should also give optimism towards the future.

[hotshot]

Considering the Nats wouldn't go near the DR for years after "the troubles" and now they're finding guys like Robles, Soto, Suero, Rodriguez, Difo, etc, well, that should also give optimism towards the future.

Agree. If anything, Nats should redouble their efforts not only in the DR but throughout the Carribean and the South/Central American countries bordering it.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

The thing with our system has been, when we have somebody who is a top "can't miss prospect," they've generally panned out as just that.  Obviously Stras and Harper were rare phenoms.  However, Rendon panned out.  Turner panned out.  Soto is panning out.  Robles should pan out.  Also, as mentioned, we've flipped prospects for some really good vet pieces several times. 

Rizzo and his staff have done a fantastic job.  Nobody has every move they make turn to gold, but he's making far more good moves than bad. 

[tomterp]

Considering the Nats wouldn't go near the DR for years after "the troubles" and now they're finding guys like Robles, Soto, Suero, Rodriguez, Difo, etc, well, that should also give optimism towards the future.

The outfield, even sans Harper, is very promising.  Robles, Soto, Eaton, Taylor, even Goodwin (as a very competent 5th outfielder) compares very well with other teams.

[DPMOmaha]

PM me tomorrow’s powerball numbers please.

6, 31, 34, 37, 62
PB: 22

[aspenbubba]

The scouting org would argue good vs lucky, but Soto's only our 2nd best outfield prospect, behind Robles. 

I'm going out on a limb here but I believe Sotos the better player and will be in the future . He is an awful fielder with an average arm but as a hitter he , IMO , will always be better in average , power, etc.

[bluestreak]

I'm going out on a limb here but I believe Sotos the better player and will be in the future . He is an awful fielder with an average arm but as a hitter he , IMO , will always be better in average , power, etc.

Soto will have more power, but Robles was also mature at the plate and will be able to hit for average. Robles is so much better in the field. And the thing that I like most about Robles is his speed. He's got blazing, game-changing speed. It really is a weapon. It's a shame really, that Soto has broken out so much. People have forgotten how good Robles actually is.

[aspenbubba]

Soto will have more power, but Robles was also mature at the plate and will be able to hit for average. Robles is so much better in the field. And the thing that I like most about Robles is his speed. He's got blazing, game-changing speed. It really is a weapon. It's a shame really, that Soto has broken out so much. People have forgotten how good Robles actually is.

Matt Adams is probably better in the field than Soto and he will never be faster than Robles but he is not slow by any means.

[Truconfidence]

What good is relief pitching if we are already losing when they enter the game? Just traded away 2 of our top 20 prospects, both position players, one IF, one OF, one a switch hitter and both projected to be solid top of the order speed guys who can actually get on base....for a rental reliever who probably won't even get a chance to pitch in October. GREAT TRADE. This is definitely a recipe for long term success!

I mean, I know these weren't superstar prospects, but our farm is pretty bleak, and we just made it all the more barren for a rental reliever when it's looking like we will be lucky just to play in the WC game.

This take cant be serious??? Guiterrez and Perkins are both so blocked that they never would have gotten signifcant time.  Johnson, Augstin and Stevenson are all better prospects then Perkins. Kieboom projects as a 3b.

[Optics]

None of these prospects are worth a crap. This is a damn good deal and our pen will be shutdown...now we gotta get enough offense to actually get leads going into the late innings.