2019 Bullpen

[Expos]

Let's hope this group is better than the group we had last year.

My guess on the top 7:

(L) Sean Doolittle
Trevor Rosenthal
Kyle Barraclough
(L) Matt Grace
Justin Miller
(L) Vidal Nuno
Joe Ross

Wander Suero gets optioned and will be the 1st in line for a call up.

Koda Glover goes on the DL

And we have some depth with Jimmy Cordero or non-roster invitees Henderson Alvarez, Scott Copeland or Aaron Barrett.

Austin Voth could slide into a long relief role if injuries push Joe Ross to the rotation. Erik Fedde has not looked good.

[Truconfidence]

yeah I think this is the bullpen, I also expect to see Ross piggyback Hellickson and/or Sanchez alot.

[Trea Burner]

Bullpen once again suspect. Probably costs them a dozen games.

Lessons from the past not learned...

[Slateman]

Bullpen once again suspect. Probably costs them a dozen games.

Lessons from the past not learned...

[hotshot]

Lotta question marks (not even getting into health issues).

Biggest for me are Rosenthal (can he return to anything close to his top form?), Miller (was last season an anomaly?), and what, if anything, will Nuno be able to contribute (I'm not expecting anything really)? If two of these three guys turn out to be effective, I think we'll be improved. 

[phil219]

Think they need a Solis replacement, but I took a look at free agents and vomited.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Think they need a Solis replacement, but I took a look at free agents and vomited.

Tony Sipp is better than Solis (he's probably better than any lefty the Nats have in relief besides Doolittle), but I'm not sure why he's not signed.  He might be injured or have lost something when teams take a look.  There also likely will be a couple guys cut in final cuts who will have out clauses or be on major league contracts without options and who fit the mold and are better than Nuno.

[imref]

Tony Sipp is better than Solis (he's probably better than any lefty the Nats have in relief besides Doolittle), but I'm not sure why he's not signed.  He might be injured or have lost something when teams take a look.  There also likely will be a couple guys cut in final cuts who will have out clauses or be on major league contracts without options and who fit the mold and are better than Nuno.

Zuck talked about Sipp in his Q&A this morning and agreed that he'd be a good fit, but he wants something like $5 million and the current RHPs have had good success against Lefty's.  He argues that the Nats FO probably believes it's not worth $5 million for a guy who will only throw against LHBs.  He argues that the days of the LH specialist in the bullpen may be coming to a close.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Zuck talked about Sipp in his Q&A this morning and agreed that he'd be a good fit, but he wants something like $5 million and the current RHPs have had good success against Lefty's.  He argues that the Nats FO probably believes it's not worth $5 million for a guy who will only throw against LHBs.  He argues that the days of the LH specialist in the bullpen may be coming to a close.

loogies are a bit of a luxury now but I thought Sipp could handle an inning?

[Elvir Ovcina]

loogies are a bit of a luxury now but I thought Sipp could handle an inning?

He can, even though the Astros didn't have him do it all that often.  He's not one of those one-pitch breaking-ball LOOGYs with a show-me fastball. His career splits and last year are basically flat.  He's fine against RHBs.  Perhaps the issue is that teams see him as a LOOGY and he wants to be paid like a normal pitcher.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

On this team, he'd be a 7th inning option, or 6th, and be on used as an alternative to Barraclough.

[phil219]

Tony Sipp is better than Solis (he's probably better than any lefty the Nats have in relief besides Doolittle), but I'm not sure why he's not signed.  He might be injured or have lost something when teams take a look.

You are a wizard.

[Natsinpwc]

You are a wizard.

Elvir is actually Mike Rizzo.

[Greg_SRT]

Elvir is actually Mike Rizzo.

Well then, Elvir... can you please sign Kimbrel?

[imref]

Zuck reporting that the Nats have signed Sipp.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Zuck reporting that the Nats have signed Sipp.

I want him to marry SE Cupp so the wedding announcement will call it the Sipp-ECupp wedding.

[imref]

I want him to marry SE Cupp so the wedding announcement will call it the Sipp-ECupp wedding.

you have way too much time on your hands.

[aBaltoNat]

I actually really like that signing.

In Sipp We Trust.

[madj55]

Anthony Castrovince @castrovince
Nats bullpen has Sipp and Doolittle. That’s how I like to spend my weekends.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

I'm "Sipp'n" the kool-aid on this signing.  I like it.  Very cheap experienced guy who has largely had a successful career and was very, very good for a very good Stros team last year.  He gives us someone to bring in for Freeman, Harper, Cano, etc and is also capable against righties if we want to leave him in for possibly a full inning at times.  He's better than Olie used to be in that role and better than Solis by a long shot. 

Closer: Staying healthy is my only concern with Doo
8th: Rosenthal is throwing really hard, but he still seems very high risk/high reward
7th: Bear Claw is much like Rosenthal in being feast or famine.  I'd be okay if 1 of the 2 of them emerges as very reliable and we look for another set up man at the deadline
Lefty: Sipp

Suero and Miller are guys we can use to bridge from starters to the back-end.  I'm okay with them in those roles.  Maybe, just maybe, Glover can help us.  For now, Ross looks like a long relief guy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

We actually may have a squeeze in the bullpen if everyone is healthy. In addition to the 6 Cory mentioned, there's Grace and Ross. If Miller starts on the injlist, the squeeze will not be until later, but it looks like 8 arms for 7 slots. That leaves out Glover and a few others we can expect to see.

[hotshot]

Like the Sipp signing. Just gotta hope age doesn't all of a sudden rear its head with him. He'll be 36 in a couple months.

[sixthree175]

We actually may have a squeeze in the bullpen if everyone is healthy. In addition to the 6 Cory mentioned, there's Grace and Ross. If Miller starts on the injlist, the squeeze will not be until later, but it looks like 8 arms for 7 slots. That leaves out Glover and a few others we can expect to see.

Usually there's at least one guy on the DL at any given time, so I don't think we'll have to worry about being squeezed.

Glover can be squeezed into oblivion for all I care.

[tomterp]

Zuck talked about Sipp in his Q&A this morning and agreed that he'd be a good fit, but he wants something like $5 million and the current RHPs have had good success against Lefty's.  He argues that the Nats FO probably believes it's not worth $5 million for a guy who will only throw against LHBs.  He argues that the days of the LH specialist in the bullpen may be coming to a close.

I think they signed him for a mere $1m

[Nick the Pig]

I'm actually liking this bullpen, a lot.