4:08pm: The Nationals have formally announced the move.
3:15pm: The Nationals have exercised their $6MM club option on left-hander Sean Doolittle, tweets Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. No official announcement has been made just yet, though as Janes notes, it was an obvious call for the Nationals that was never in any doubt.
The 32-year-old Doolittle enjoyed one what was very arguably the finest season of his career in 2018, tossing 45 innings with a minuscule 1.60 ERA as the Nationals’ primary closer. He saved 25 games and notched an absurd 60-to-6 K/BB ratio in that time, with the only real blemish on his season being a left foot injury that sidelined him for nearly two months. Beyond that, Doolittle was one of the best relievers in all of Major League Baseball this past season, making it an absolute no-brainer for the Nats to pick up his option.
As a bonus for the Nationals, they also hold a 2020 club option over the lefty — one that comes with a similarly affordable $6.5MM base salary. Doolittle has had some durability issues in the past, but he’s consistently dominant when healthy and should continue to serve as a key piece in the Nats’ bullpen for the next two years.
QO harper and pick up the extra draft pick.
Roll with Robles Eaton Soto
Trade Kieboom, Glover, Denaburg, Romero, etc to acquire JT Realmuto and Starlin Castro to man 2B for a season.
Sign Rendon to massive extension
Sign Eovaldi- Anibal Sanchez
Sign Adam Warren, Brach, Clippard, Sergio Romo
Compete
You need to have your ability to comment revoked.
You have nothing worthwhile to contribute. Got it. Move along.
The nationals aren’t win now…. lol
Lose in WC game or NLDS.
Still better than not making the playoffs at all
Oh I thought we were painting a best case scenario here.
I agree with you on Harper, Rendon, and the of lineup, but the rest of your suggestions were complete crap
Gonna be proud of those division title banners arent you? Since you;ll never see a world series banner being hung.
Thats ok. Somebody has to be the AAAA team for the real contenders.
Why are you making suggestions for a team you don’t follow? You haven’t seen any of the prospects mentioned play in the minors. New armchair GM, huh?
It’s been widely known catcher and bullpen have been the nats weaknesses the last 2 years. Thats not a secret lol.
And the nats need 2b help.
And what does their success in the minors have to do with wins for the ml club? If nats are gonna rebuild dont half ass it.
AAaAAHahahahahahahahah
I have a feeling that Doolittle regresses significantly next season, but still is worth $6MM
Yea, a left hander who is all star level when healthy is nearly a steal for $6 million.
Beane used the messed up super-two system to screw Doo out of a lot of money.
Good!! Happy to have our closer set to go.
Now, make Harper a QO, and wish him best with his new team. Go with Soto, Robles and Eaton for the OF, and use free agent cash on pitching.