The Nationals have halted the throwing program of righty Shawn Kelley, according to a report from Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. While the veteran reliever was progressing at last look, he has since suffered a setback in his efforts to work through pain in his neck and upper back area.
According to Janes, Kelley is headed for a new medical check-up today. It’s possible he could receive an injection, she notes, but the approach is yet to be decided.
As things stand, then, it’s uncertain when the Nats can expect Kelley back in action. Even if he’s able to resume throwing in relatively short order, it may be optimistic to expect he could rebuild strength, complete a rehab stint, and return to the majors to show the team his form before the trade deadline.
The injury questions only enhance the broader concern with Kelley, who had been a major contributor in 2016 and is under contract through next year. In his 18 innings this season, he has allowed 14 earned runs — due in no small part to the fact that he has allowed nine homers already (matching a career high).
Though he is still checking in with a robust 15.0% swinging-strike rate on the year, Kelley carries a career-worst 4.5 BB/9. And opposing hitters are squaring him up at a prodigious rate when they do make contact, with a 46.4% hard-hit rate and 26.5% HR/FB.
As the Nats continue to peruse the market for relief pitching, then, the organization will need to account for the fact that it cannot firmly count on two key righties, Kelley and Koda Glover. With Blake Treinen and (especially) Joe Blanton also failing to deliver consistent results, surprising journeyman Matt Albers stands as the lone steady righty in the Nationals’ pen. While adding a closer remains an obvious focus, the need for a quality right-handed setup option at the deadline seems greater now than ever.
ReverieDays
This is great news for the Nationals bullpen.
TheChanceyColborn
If they don’t fix the bullpen now, there’s no way they can win in October.
Solaris611
It’s a screaming need that won’t go away until they acquire a PROVEN, EFFECTIVE closer. It’s painful watching the 9th each and every game. Nats haven’t had a closer all year. Ownership needs to either allow Rizzo to get one, or start selling because the current act won’t get them past the first round.
SixFlagsMagicPadres
Maybe this now increases the chances they engage in trade talks with the Padres for Brad Hand?
Sokane
I’m sure they’re going to start talking to teams. probably gonna have to look aggressively. hand, Wilson, Blevins… and a myriad of rh options out there.
main issue will be the farm after the winter trades and if they’re willing to go over the luxury tax threshold.
*To be fair, I do not follow the Nats farm… I’m just assuming it’s taken a significant hit
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Hand for Robles?
I Believe We Can Win
Id rather have fedde kieboom watson and a 4th prospect than just robles. Rather not do a 1-1 swap for Hand. Padres get their pitching and ss, nats get hand and keep robles, everyone wins.
pplama
You are going to be so disappointed.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
So will you when your team gets bounced in the 1st round again.
chesteraarthur
great come back…
pplama
My favorite team is “competing” for a top 5 draft pick.
I Believe We Can Win
Well considering preller rejected a jorge mateo package for kimbrel, gyorko, and cash from the yankees during the deadline and got margot allen asjuae and guerra during the off season safe to say I’ll be happy when the padres finally deal Hand cause Preller holds all the cards.
Oh? Teams don’t want to offer what Preller wants? No problen- keep Hand and trade him during the off season like Kimbrel. When their bullpens implode during the playoffs I am sure Preller will be the first to call them up about Hand to discuss a trade during the off season.
Hand has 2 1/2 years of control left. Preller isnt in any rush to trade Hand.
chesteraarthur
Yes, because a previous trade of a different type of asset to a different team certainly predicts all future ones by that front office.
I Believe We Can Win
So you’re saying if Preller doesn’t like a deal he has to trade hand? Weird cause here I was thinking if Preller doesn’t like a deal during the deadline he can hold on to hand who has 2 more years of control and work a trade he does like out with more teams during the offseason who have plans to compete in 2018.
2018 offseason will have more suitors than the 2017 deadline.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Aren’t you forgetting something? chesteraarthur is always right about everything.
pplama
I’m not saying he won’t be in demand. I’m not saying he won’t bring back some nice prospects. I’m not saying Preller will give him away for scraps.
I’m saying if you think the Pads are getting anything close to that you will be very disappointed.
I Believe We Can Win
Top 100 prospect and other pieces is what its gonna take to land hand. Could wind up being just fedde kieboom or fedde kieboom watson from the nats.
Top relief pitching is expensive. If the Nats wont meet the asking price other teams have assets. Astros Yankees Nats Indians Dbacks Dodgers Rockies Cubs Red Sox all have need for relief pitching. And when you factor in 2018 off season teams like the Mariners, Braves, Rangers you just created 11 teams bidding for arguably the best reliever on the market given his salary and ability to go 1+ innings and 2 years of team control.
pplama
Removing the 2 extra pieces is a good start on the road to reality.
Fedde is a top 50. Kieboom will be a top 100 when lists are updated..
We’ll see if they get it. (they won’t)
I Believe We Can Win
The two extra pieces doesnt equate to top prospects in case you were confused. Watson is ranked in the 15-17 range.
Fedde and Kieboom are the center pieces with lesser pieces like watson sagdal. The 2 extra pieces werent robles and soto.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
I know it is
chubias
Preller may not be in any rush to trade Hand, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be. Hand is doing great, but the Padres are no where close to needing his talents. And relievers are notorious for volatile assets. So, sure Preller might get a better deal later or he with nothing like the Royals got with Soria.
Either way, Hand isn’t Andrew Miller.
strostro
Sure Preller does everything right and legal. (Pomeranz-Espinoza)
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Lol. So tell us. How’s Pomeranz doing for the Red Sox this year? And Espinoza for the Padres?
JKB 2
Well said Chester
dazedatnoon
A trade with the White Sox for the duo of Robertson/Kahnle makes so much sense. It would be costly but the Nationals would shorten the game considerably for their starters.
Why would the White Sox trade Kahnle?
1. relievers are the most volatile asset in baseball
2. this is year 1 of the rebuild. Moncada isn’t guaranteed to be a star, Anderson is in a sophmore slump, Rodon had a MAJOR hiccup this season……the White Sox are not close to contention. 2020 would be the earliest to contention and that still seems unlikely.
3. I imagine his trade value is sky high. production plus control both look very appealing.
Aj5258
Robertson, Kahnle, Swarzak and 3 million for Soto or Kieboom, Ward and Bautista.
Bullpen woes gone in one trade.
pplama
Yeah, rebuilding teams often do 3 for 3 swaps.
ASapsFables
I’m sure Rick Hahn would be thrilled to do a 3 for 1 swap if Mike Rizzo was willing to cough up Victor Robles. lol
jaymann
Gone in one trade? So are the 2019 Nats
spartan-i7
I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if they end up trading away Robles for a package of relievers. He’s not untouchable, nor would it be a terrible idea given how talented this current Nationals team is. Fix the bullpen and you have one of the most complete teams in baseball and a legitimate WS contender.
jaymann
Shutting down Kelly is great news. I was afraid they would activate him soon. If it weren’t for his contact eating a lot of $s, the Nats would cut him since he has been .