Finnegan: more value keeping or trading?

[Five Banners]

take it a step further....Kieboom is now past TJ.  Can he close?

Kiebohtani

[Slateman]

Zero value

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Got to bring him back to middle relief for a while. of course, he's an every other game good guy, so he'll probably do well next appearance.

[imref]

Guessing Harvey is the closer for now?

[Slateman]

Got to bring him back to middle relief for a while. of course, he's an every other game good guy, so he'll probably do well next appearance.

Middle relief is fine. In just baffled as to why Rizzo/Davey insist on using this guy in the closer role. He simply doesnt have the mentality.

[aspenbubba]

I knew Finnegan would blow this game. I couldn’t turn the TV off fast enough so I saw the first pitch. This is a AAA team at best. They have one legitimate player who could probably start for a contending team. This is worse than 06 thru ‘ 09.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Middle relief is fine. In just baffled as to why Rizzo/Davey insist on using this guy in the closer role. He simply doesnt have the mentality.

team kind of cries out for a no closer / closer by committee approach.  Right now, I feel comfortable with Harvey in a hi leverage situation, with maybe Banda if it is a lefty heavy stretch. Edwards is a smoke and mirrors guy who should be spotted up against bottom halves of batting orders. I'd be careful but give him the 9th too. Erasmo and Finnegan are 6th/7th inning guys, but, TBH, I may prefer Thompson at this point.  Thompson is a guy who I'd give the 8th and, if he holds a 3+ run lead, the 9th as well. Ward is TBD, hopefullly a long guy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

After starting the season with 2 awful appearances out of 3, his last 5 appearances have "gotten the job done" if not always in a pretty way.  don't want to overdo small numbers, but it looks like his worst pitch is probably his slider right now. Had problems last year and decreased its usage, but this year its been ripped anytime he uses it. As a result, he's not drawing outside the zone swings and swinging strikes.  Hitters just pretty much sit on the fastball. After the awful start, the splitter has been effective, probably because hitters don't look for it.

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/kyle-finnegan/15009/game-log?type=7&gds=2023-04-06&gde=2023-04-21&season=&position=P

[imref]

6 straight appearances without allowing a run.

[Slateman]

Trade him. Trade him now.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Do wonder whether there will be some early moves before the trade deadline. I don't see him as maxing his value yet.

[Slateman]

Do wonder whether there will be some early moves before the trade deadline. I don't see him as maxing his value yet.

There wont. And right about the deadline, we'll see Finnegan implode.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It's just not clear to me now what team is desperate for a set up guy. Nobody is going to look at him as a closer. Of course, that was said about Daniel Hudson in 2019. Does he have a pitch that a team thinks they could develop into a real weapon, a la Ryan Pressly and his slider?

[Section214]

It's just not clear to me now what team is desperate for a set up guy. Nobody is going to look at him as a closer. Of course, that was said about Daniel Hudson in 2019. Does he have a pitch that a team thinks they could develop into a real weapon, a la Ryan Pressly and his slider?

Every competing team is looking for more late inning bullpen help. I don't think any contending team right now would make Finnegan their closer, but if he keeps pitching well, he will have value at the deadline.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Every competing team is looking for more late inning bullpen help. I don't think any contending team right now would make Finnegan their closer, but if he keeps pitching well, he will have value at the deadline.

I was more thinking about a pre-deadline deal. Slate had said trade him now, and I said I don't think there's a market yet.  Maybe right before the ASB. Mets and Phillies might be candidates, but those are in-division deals.

[Slateman]

Every competing team is looking for more late inning bullpen help. I don't think any contending team right now would make Finnegan their closer, but if he keeps pitching well, he will have value at the deadline.

This. Finnegan can be a passable 7th or 8th inning guy with a clean inning. Trade him.

[Senatorswin]

Finnegan fills a valuable role for the Nats. He's been incredibly consistent the last three years. If you have a strong bullpen why not keep it and build elsewhere. As Forrest Gump would say, one less thing. Also, if you say he's a 7th or 8th guy, who do you think you're going to get for him that would even come close to his value. Who's going to give a top prospect if you view him as a 7th or 8th guy. Keep your strength and attack your weaknesses.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Finnegan fills a valuable role for the Nats. He's been incredibly consistent the last three years. If you have a strong bullpen why not keep it and build elsewhere. As Forrest Gump would say, one less thing. Also, if you say he's a 7th or 8th guy, who do you think you're going to get for him that would even come close to his value. Who's going to give a top prospect if you view him as a 7th or 8th guy. Keep your strength and attack your weaknesses.

or deal from length and strength to attack your weakness. 

I don't think Daniel Hudson was dealt to be a closer and he brought back 2 nice pieces in Thompson and Barley at the trade deadline. He isn't a free agent until after 2025, when he will be 34. That has value in trade. In terms of Nats contention, if our serious timeline is once some of the House /Wood /Green etc... start hitting the majors,  You'd be banking on a lot of stability for a reliever if you think he is going to be an important piece for that window.

You at least have to see what is available at the deadline.

[nobleisthyname]

In terms of Nats contention, if our serious timeline is once some of the House /Wood /Green etc... start hitting the majors,  You'd be banking on a lot of stability for a reliever if you think he is going to be an important piece for that window.

This. Finnegan would be in pretty exclusive company as far as relievers if he's still as good as he is now in 2025. I wouldn't want to bet on that being the case if the alternative means getting a Hudson like return.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

This. Finnegan would be in pretty exclusive company as far as relievers if he's still as good as he is now in 2025. I wouldn't want to bet on that being the case if the alternative means getting a Hudson like return.

2026, at 34.

[Slateman]

Finnegan fills a valuable role for the Nats. He's been incredibly consistent the last three years. If you have a strong bullpen why not keep it and build elsewhere. As Forrest Gump would say, one less thing. Also, if you say he's a 7th or 8th guy, who do you think you're going to get for him that would even come close to his value. Who's going to give a top prospect if you view him as a 7th or 8th guy. Keep your strength and attack your weaknesses.

Because he's 31. By the time this team "needs" a strong bullpen, he'll be on the downside of his career.

His value will never be higher. Turn him into the next Mason Thompson.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Because he's 31. By the time this team "needs" a strong bullpen, he'll be on the downside of his career.

His value will never be higher. Turn him into the next Mason Thompson.

through another Hudson for Thompson type of swap.

[Slateman]

Sure, but never forget, the Dodgers traded Yordan Alvarez for Josh Fields.

[Natsinpwc]

Because he's 31. By the time this team "needs" a strong bullpen, he'll be on the downside of his career.

His value will never be higher. Turn him into the next Mason Thompson.

Have to agree.  Need more lottery tickets. 

[Senatorswin]

It's possible the Nats made a very nice trade when they got Mason Thompson. But, he's been pitching in professional baseball since 2017 and the most innings he's pitched in the big leagues in any year is 24. Hopefully he keeps pitching like he has so far this year and doesn't get injured like he has in the past.

So now because the Nats are so much smarter than any other team they can take a guy people on here are saying is a 7th or 8th guy and trade him for a key piece for the future. They may of made a shrewd trade with Thompson, time will tell, but all this talk about lets trade Finnegan for somebody who will be a key piece of the future is the classic let's trade our mediocrity for your valuable guy.

No other pitcher on the Nats has any history of even being close to being able to close games. I would rather not watch the Nats blow games in the 9th all year. MLB is littered with relievers who pitch into their mid or late 30's.  You want to get some value if Thompson keeps pitching lights out trade him.