The Nationals designated pitcher Jason Bergmann for assignment to make room for Scott Olsen, tweets MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Ladson says the Nats were planning to demote Jesse English, but Bergmann's one-inning, two earned run performance yesterday against the Phillies changed their mind. GM Mike Rizzo will attempt to trade Bergmann, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
Bergmann, 28, posted a 4.50 ERA, 7.5 K/9, and 4.7 BB/9 in 48 relief innings last year, allowing seven home runs. He posted a 1.16 ERA in 23.3 minor league frames, though his peripherals were unimpressive. Bergmann's flyball tendencies have proven problematic, and he's also bounced between starting and relieving a few times. In their '05 Handbook, Baseball America noted then-Nationals scouting director Dana Brown's familiarity with Bergmann. Brown now works under Alex Anthopoulos in Toronto, so maybe the Blue Jays will take a look.
Comment_and_Chill
good. almost every time hes come in a game hes given up a homerun. 3 out of 4 appearences i think, a grand slam, a 3-run shot and a 2-run shot. The games were either tied or a 1 or 2 run difference until he came in and put it out of reach. good riddance.
The Big Clayboski
Another Rutgers pitcher bites the dust…
satchelprice
Getting rid of Bergmann is fine, he’s nothing special.
But they made the decision because of one game? That kind of unreasonable judgment would worry me if I was a Nats fan.
Comment_and_Chill
not just over one game. the one game finalized their decision. he wasnt improving.
ihatefancybirds
About time. I am glad to see the Nationals finally taking a hard line to these “has great stuff, but needs to trust it” kind of guys. It’s time to perform or you’re either back to the minors (Mock) or off the team (Bergmann).
Comment_and_Chill
agreed. i just heard tho “Garrett Mock on the DL with a cervical spine injury (disc in his neck), so his option to Class AAA Syracuse is voided.” wonder wat this is about… never heard of him having a injury before until hes kicked off the team….. seems to happen like that tho…. bergmann will prob say he has had a injury as well….
ivpaul
Won’t matter with Bergmann because he’s been designated for assignment, while Mock was optioned. If Bergmann is not claimed on waivers, he can be either released or outrighted to the minors, but in either case a claim of injury cannot void that, except to make it more likely he would get his release.
satchelprice
They were going to send down someone else, but they opted to send down Bergmann because of one game, apparently. The way it’s phrased, it sounds like a knee-jerk, one-game reaction.
Not that they’re wrong to let Bergmann go. I just wonder about the process.
Pseudonymus Bosch
It didn’t help that the “someone else” pitched 2.2 scoreless innings immediately before Bergmann coughed up the dinger.
Let’s just say Jason has been known in NatsTown by the nickname “Beachball” for about a year now. Because … sometimes he just throws beachballs.