The Nationals’ bullpen is off to a dismal start to the season, with a collective 4.86 ERA through the season’s first three weeks. Blake Treinen has already been removed from the closer’s role, albeit with a relatively quick hook (he’s thrown just seven innings this year). Koda Glover and Shawn Kelley are presently sharing ninth-inning work, and they’re two of just three Nats relievers that have ERAs south of 5.00 to begin the year. (Matt Albers has not allowed a run in four innings.)
In light of those struggles, Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM reports that the Nats have “touched base” with multiple teams on their closers. Specifically, he cites a pair of names that are no stranger to trade rumors: David Robertson of the White Sox and Alex Colome of the Rays. However, Bowden adds that the Nats “aren’t even in the same ballpark” when it comes to the asking price on those players.
Robertson, 32, has allowed just one run through his first 6 2/3 innings this season and logged an impressive 12-to-3 K/BB ratio along the way. He’s earning $12MM this season (of which about $10.6MM remains) and will earn $13MM next year in the final season of a four-year, $46MM contract. The 28-year-old Colome, meanwhile, has yet to allow a run this year, though he’s curiously punched out just four hitters through nine innings after posting a gaudy 11.3 K/9 rate in a breakout 2016 campaign. He’s not yet arbitration eligible and can be controlled through the 2020 season, so it’s hardly surprising to hear that Tampa Bay’s asking price may be quite lofty.
As alternative options, Bowden lists Brandon Kintzler of the Twins, Brandon Maurer of the Padres and any of the Athletics’ late-inning arms, which include Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Santiago Casilla. It should be noted, though, that there’s no specific mention of trade talks with any of those clubs, so the suggestions seem fairly speculative in nature.
Furthermore, each of those names comes with a caveat. Kintzler’s experience as a closer is highly limited, and a year ago at this time he was in Triple-A after signing a minor league deal with Minnesota. As a free agent at season’s end, though, he’s a natural trade candidate. Maurer is controllable through 2019, which could create a significant asking price, and he hasn’t exactly established a track record of dominance himself. And when it comes to the A’s, Doolittle is on a terrific contract, while Madson’s three-year, $22MM looks to be an overpay. Casilla, meanwhile, can’t even be traded without his consent until June 15 given the fact that he only signed with Oakland as a free agent this past offseason (a two-year, $11MM deal).
The Nationals, according to Bowden, believe that the 24-year-old Glover can be their closer of the future, but there’s some question in the organization about whether it’s too early in his career to hand him the job. Glover has just 27 1/3 MLB innings under his belt and has been solid but not overpowering in that time; the former eighth-rounder has a 4.28 ERA, a 22-to-8 K/BB ratio and a 42 percent ground-ball rate in his young career.
Funny, I didn’t see “Needs a Miracle” listed in any of the speculative names in this article. Lol.
4 games at Coors Field this week should expedite the process
Yup
Take ’em for everything they’ve got, Mr. Hahn.
The asking price for Robertson is not that high. Two good prospects would probably be sufficient.
The problem is the Nats care more about holding on to prospects than helping the big league squad win a championship. They have one of the best rosters in baseball, so I don’t understand the hesitation to acquire a quality closer.
How can you say that after the Easton debacle?
How can who say what? Please elaborate.
How can you say that the nats care more about holding onto prospects after they traded gio, lopez, and dunning to acquire eaton this offseason?
You really think Giolito is that good? Good luck with that.
Nats caring more about holding prospects when they overpaid for Eaton!
Eaton is a star with 5 years on a super cheap contract. You guys with these prospects. smh
Yeah, his first point was fine depending on his definition of two good prospects. The second sentence was off base after the what the Nats gave up to acquire Eaton.
Lucas Giolito was only 1/3 of the trade package for Adam Eaton and it’s much too early to write him off after two AAA starts. Reynaldo Lopez has also been a mixed bag after 3 AAA starts with an impressive SO/IP ratio but problems with his command and HR’s which may be attributed to cooler weather and a hitter friendly park in Charlotte. Dunning, the Nats 2016 first round draft pick has been lights out in A Kannapolis with probably the best overall numbers of any starting pitcher at any level following his first 3 outings.
I can say that because Eaton was a luxury; a strong bullpen with a lights out closer is an absolute necessity if you want to ever win a championship. They’re wasting time and money by refusing to pay for a closer.
Eaton has scored 16 runs in 11 games. Not sure how Nats fans think he’s a waste. He gets on base (solid OBP and BA), steals bases and scores. You don’t win championships without table setters like Eaton.
If Washington saw Robertson as a lights out closer they would have added him. They didn’t. They like Robertson but not at the price. They have chosen to wait until later to add a closer if necessary. Hoping that more will be available later. Right now they’re not willing to trade for him. So no trade is happening.
Exactly!!! Finally!!! Someone who understands the relatively low likelihood of prospects ever becoming what Easton already is … it’s amazing how ignorant people can be
They tried to get multiple closers during the off-season, thankfully they all rebuffed the Nats’ offers. I’m not sure if it was bc of the fit, deferred money, or a preference elsewhere…but they definitely failed at the one thing they REALLY needed during the off-season. The remainder of the NL East is thankful for their misstep.
I would concur with your take on “championship” table setters but clearly Joe Maddon and Terry Francona don’t agree with Kyle Schwarber and Carlos Santana as leadoff hitters with the Cubs and Indians in 2017. In addition, Maddon has slugger Kris Bryant following Schwarber in the #2 spot where Eaton has been this season for manager Dusty Baker except when Trea Turner was on the disabled list. Eaton was the primary White Sox leadoff man with the White Sox prior to his offseason trade to the Nats. Go figure?
Someone with common sense
Two “good prospects” is a rather subjective price, what do you mean by that? And how much $ are the nats having to pay? From their comments about cutch requiring they drop gio, it would seem like they don’t want to spend more money (but then they signed weiters, so i have no idea if that actually matters to them)
Severino was mentioned in the offseason. Neuse might be the second guy they want?
Now with the semantics arguments. Incredible! Look, you don’t have to be a lawyer to understand this, so don’t complicate things. It’s simple…
Two good prospects as opposed to the asking price for Quintana (two elite prospects and a MLB ready player or two).
In other words, you get what you give in return. Two good prospects for a good closer with time left on his contract. If you don’t pull the trigger now, you’ll be in the same position with the same results next year. Melancon, Robertson, …
The issue with Robertson is that he has been good (not great and definitely not elite), but it sounded like CWS wanted to receive a package consistent with a great to elite closer. Add on top of that his salary, which is high for his stats, and now you have a pretty talented guy who has no surplus value.
That is hardly true if the report of catcher Pedro Severino and another lesser prospect was accurate in previous trade speculation. That package was hardly commensurate with the elite prospects (SS Gleyber Torres and OF Clint Frazier) that the Cubs and Indians gave up for Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller last July.
That’s not really true though if you consider the reports that there was a deal already in place for Robertson, but it was nixed by management. Seems to me they were willing to spend on a top end closer with their offer to Jansen. I think it’s totally inaccurate to say they don’t care about winning, but they do about prospect hoarding (especially with the Eaton deal and the framework of the Robertson deal). One could argue that the spent on Weiters but he is an everyday player. I’m kind of the mind they don’t view Robertson as a high end closer so taking on his salary and giving up the prospect package is a double negative.
Who said they don’t care about winning? Learn to read.
the gnats will find some bullpen arm dusty will ruin.
Papplebon is available, though he might “choke” in the dugout.
Betances for Turner. Problem solved.
nyy wishes
In a heartbeat
Betances for Turner won’t work. Norv Turner isn’t with Washington any more.
If you mean Jacob Turner, consider it done.
I am even willing to forfeit tonight’s game so he doesn’t have to start at Coors.
Yea, Jacob Turner, not Trea
The Nats bullpen has been way better off late. The team is 13 – 5 and is clearly the best team in the division. I love how 6 or 7 innings is struggling.
Yes, was going to comment the same thing. A quick count gave me 13 innings, 3 runs over the Nats win streak. An article titled “the latest” should probably mention that.
Lots of non Nats fans just dying to see a trade go down. Wierd
That’s why I normally never comment but I had to on this one. Thanks for backing my point up with some numbers.
Bit of an arbitrary end point, no?
It is not arbitrary. It is during the win streak. And more than stats, I would concentrate on the trend. Over last 7 days, Nationals bullpen has been 5th best in both leagues. That’s a drastic change when compared to their last place in overall relievers stats at FG few days ago.
No kidding. “When they’re not blowing games, they’re not that bad”
What are you trying to say?
Short term trends early in the season may not be all that meaningful to the Nats come August and into the playoffs. Sure, they have some time before the trade deadline but the experience that a pitcher like David Robertson can bring to their playoff prospects could prove more important.
Robertson might be far from perfect as a closer but what he has accomplished can’t be discounted either. His performance filling the role of retired legendary closer Mariano Rivera on the big stage of N.Y in 2014 alone shows his mettle under high pressure circumstances. This could prove invaluable to the Nats in a 2017 stretch run for the division title and throughout the postseason. He hasn’t been “chopped liver” for the White Sox either since signing as a free agent but never had the opportunity for a serious pennant run or postseason appearance in Chicago.
Season is exactly 3 weeks old. With bullpen’s initial horrible stats or the recent positive trend, we are looking at short term trends. My point is that these guys are talented. I will give them time before making any trade. Also like I said before, problem was not one guy. All of them were bleeding runs.
I am not talking about a particular reliever. I am sure DR is wonderful.
Well considering there are no stats available for games that have yet to be played, I think the end point is quite literally the end point.
Ah yes, a facetious comment suggesting that trends don’t matter in baseball? Sure what it looks like.
It is a looooong season. Let’s see where they are at in July. Maybe they will be fine, as BP arms are hard to predict, but I suspect they will blow a number of games because they aren’t proven and a larger sample size should expose any weaknesses they have on the back-end.
ps. They may have 2-3 serviceable to good BP arms, but they need at least 4-5 more guys to step up to make it through an entire season.
Robertson is still a league average mlb closer, which is still valuable to a contending team like Washington
At the deadline the pricetag for a closer might be even higher than it is right now given supply and demand.
The longer the Nationals wait the less they have to pay. It would take another interested team to make a difference in a deal right now, and the WS asking price has clearly been too high if he’s still on their club. Robertson isn’t going to be there when they contend, so there’s a point where it’s silly to hold out for something better. They shouldn’t just take a bag of balls, but it would only take a couple of lousy outings or an injury for him to have no value whatsoever. Frazier too. If the Kelley/Glover hybrid works for the Nats, this throwing stuff at the walls until it sticks bullpen management won’t be a story later in the year. They have a guy in Kelley who can probably be average at the job as long as his arm holds up, along with the young, controllable guy who gets a few opportunities doing it when Kelley has worked a few days in a row without being “the Man”. That sounds like it would assuage the internal doubts about Glover’s experience if it works for a few months. It may be they really needed a long man more, and a bigger mistake was letting Worley go than initially naming Treinen as closer.
The longer the Nats wait, the less it “costs” them in $’s, but that also risks that another suitor will pop up closer to the deadline and cause an overpay in prospects/talent.
I expect Robertson to continue to produce at league avg, but a fringe team (or the Nats) will still push to get him because a guy like Colome will be stupid expensive at the deadline.
If not Robertson, the Nats should be looking hard at the A’s BP…and I hope they are forced to overpay for one of those arms.
The longer Robertson shows 2016 was a blip, rather than a decline, the less he’s going to be viewed as “league average” (which undersells him in the first place). Prior to a solid 2016, his FIP ERA ranged from 2.49-2.68 from 2012-15. That’s not to say value him solely by his pre-2016 past, but it does show his ability to be a consistent, durable, elite closer (again, assuming he continues to demonstrate elite skills in 2017).
Hahn’s probably valuing him as at least a premium closer on the trade market. After the mega-returns fetched by (superior) upper-tier elite closers last July, Hahn’s in the catbird seat with Robertson (and Nate Jones, who’s likely valued even higher). He’s not going to land someone like Torres or Frazier/Sheffield, but as more bidders and a clearer playoff picture emerge, a return of Pedro Severino (rumored this past offseason) would seem like a pittance (nothing against Severino).
Of all the available closers, clearly David Robertson is the most experienced as well as arguably the best along with Alex Colome of the Rays. That alone makes his value worth more than what some perceive it to be.
In addition, Robertson is hardly considered expensive anymore in light of the mega deals given out to Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon this past offseason. If the White Sox were inclined to pay down some of Robertson’s remaining salary his price in return assets would increase exponentially. Even without a pay-down he should be worth at least a top-ten prospect in the Nats system, perhaps someone in the top-5 and just outside MLB’s top-100 list. As long as Robertson remains productive and healthy his value only figures to increase as the trade deadline approaches.
Most importantly, the Nats are serious contenders in 2017 and can’t go into the postseason with such a huge question mark in the closer role with each of the other likely N.L. playoff teams having no such concerns at the moment.
“If the White Sox were inclined to pay down some of Robertson’s remaining salary his price in return assets would increase exponentially” Why would it increase exponentially as opposed to proportionally?
Yes, proportionally would have been the better adverb but I think most fans would have gotten my point.
He’s a troll. Don’t bother with him
ok colome>Robertson in terms of value and it’s not close
can’t they just sign Joe Nathan
They should have stayed in Montreal. They’d have Claude Raymond in that case = problem solved.
What folks fail to understand that it was not one guy (Blake as closer) who was failing at his job. All bullpen arms were struggling. There was not a single guy who was doing OK. Getting another reliever does not solve the problem. That bunch has talent and history of performance. They seem to be getting back on track. I hope Rizzo gives this bunch more time.
Only Kelley has a history of performance as a closer. Treinen had one save coming into 2017 and few high leverage situations. Glover is still a rookie. All he had last season was a short stint in the majors.
The smart move was to show confidence in the guy that closed for you and gave up zero runs in September and October last season and handed Kelley the ball until one of the other two took the position away from him with their performance in high leverage 7th and 8th inning pitching in 2017. But…Dusty…
From what I have read, Nationals went after all 3 top relievers to extent they were comfortable. KJ even refused higher offer from them to return to LAD.
I am OK with current bunch for now. If Eaton trade had included Jones, that trade would sting a bit less. Oh well!
BTW I never said they had history of performance as closer. They had success as relievers.
I’m sure the Padres would send Maurer to the Nationals for Turner. Shoot, they would even include Sardinas to take Turner’s place at SS. LOL.
Greg Holland is spectacular for the Rockies
Robertson’s value will depend of IF a contender needs a closer, and IF he remains healthy and effective by the trade deadline. So far the Nat’s aren’t biting at the asking price and I don’t see that they will unless another team enters the discussion. His value is what is what other teams with give for him, not whatever the White Sox’s want..
I agree with this. The problem is, I don’t see a contender (other than Nats) who need a closer or even an 8th inning option. I guess someone could get hurt.
Antonio Bastardo for the A-ball mascot of the Nats’ choice.
I believe the WSox are willing to offer cash for the right mix of prospects in a Robertson trade.
No org fixes healthy pitching like they do. I’m confident both Gio & Lopez will improve a lot with them. Part of what enabled Kenny to deal prospects in his foolish contention dreams is the team’s pitching track record. They tend to stay in the majors for other teams.
One the Rangers settle on their bullpen they could move someone like Dyson or Kela.
Give up 2-3 good prospects and become one of the best overall teams in baseball. When your all in you have to be all in! Work out a deal that is fair for both sides and the White Sox better not be cheap. If paying for half of his contract this year and next will bring back much better prospects then do it. This deal could work out perfect for both teams so why not do it now instead of waiting till July,
Wolfman
Juan Soto would be the ideal prospect target for WSox if JR would give green light to Hahn to send more money with Robertson in sort of win-win deal you propose. That is, unless Nats consider Soto untouchable like they understandably do with Robles. Nats have time on their side while its offense is rolling.
Nats fans are crazy stupid. On one hand, they criticize the team for not having a real closer. On the other hand, they don’t want them trading prospects to get one, and they expect teams to give up valuable assets for virtually nothing in return.
Your comment is crazy stupid and ignorant. I wasn’t aware the only way to get a player was to trade for them.
They didn’t pay Melancon to stick around either, so how else do you get a quality closer?
Not sure this “lights out closer” with a 3.44 ERA, 1.14 WHIP with 14 blown saves and his strikeout ratio has fallen 2 straight years is “gotta have”. I’ll take my chances with Glover until the all star break and then evaluate from all the teams whose season is considered over and want to sell. Kinda like the ChiSox did after another overhyped season last year.
There’s this thing called context, ever hear of it?
Nobody but you has labeled David Robertson as a “lights out” closer on this comment board.
I know the Nats’ front office is praying hard that the closer problem solves itself, but the Giants learned last year that those prayers are rarely answered. WAS went into the winter knowing they had no closer. One can generate dozens of justifications as to why they didn’t sign any of the numerous available closers, but the fact remains: the Nats still do not have a closer
I’m going to laugh my ass off when the Nats trade for a stiff on the cheap and get bounced out of the playoffs. I don’t care how good your rotation is, a weak bullpen will always get exploited in postseason play.
Too bad the Nats didn’t trade for Sale he looks like a lost cause in Boston