Sean Doolittle is on pace to finish just enough games to trigger the clause in his contract that turns the Nationals’ $6.5MM club option into a mutual option, and the reliever spoke to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post about his future this week. “I mean, you play this game for a really long time, and any time you have even a little control over your fate, over the direction your career goes, that’s something that we all hope to have,” said the Washington closer.
It’s a critical clause for the Nationals, as the club has had perennial issues with its bullpen over the past few seasons. Doolittle himself was a midseason upgrade on the trade market and has emerged as Washington’s most reliable reliever since being acquired in 2017. He’ll need to finish 17 of the club’s final 42 games to get there, but he’s already finished 48 of 120, making that a distinct possibility. If his option converts to a mutual option, it’s quite likely that the 32-year-old will enter free agency, as he should be able to top a year and $6.5MM easily on the open market. Doolittle has a 2.65 ERA with 10.7 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 and 73 saves in 125 2/3 innings as a National.
More from the NL East…
- The Braves plan to stick with infielder Johan Camargo despite his considerable struggles at the plate and with the glove, writes Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Camargo’s playing time has increased with Dansby Swanson shelved, but the 25-year-old has turned in a career-worst .222/.268/.344 batting line through 236 plate appearances this season. And while he’s previously rated as a standout defender at third base and a passable option at shortstop, he’s had some glaring defensive miscues this season (including six errors in 320 total innings of defense after making just 13 in nearly 1100 innings a year ago). Camargo’s hard-hit rate, exit velocity and launch angle have all dipped in 2019 — so much so that Statcast doesn’t feel he’s been the victim of much poor luck. (His .262 wOBA only narrowly trails his .268 xwOBA.) Both manager Brian Snitker and GM Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged the struggles. “I don’t know that anyone knows what the answer is,” said Anthopoulos when discussing the root of Camargo’s struggles.
- Marlins CEO Derek Jeter plans to travel to meet recently acquired shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm in the near future, he told reporters this week (link via David Wilson of the Miami Herald). However, it won’t be the first time that Jeter gets to see Chisholm play in person. Jeter saw the 21-year-old play in last year’s Arizona Fall League and said that Chisholm immediately caught his eye. “…[I]t took about three innings when I said, ’Who is that?'” Jeter recalled. “He’s someone that stood out on the field and obviously he has all the tools to be successful.” The Marlins made the risky play of dealing a Major League starter who can be controlled all the way through 2025, Zac Gallen, in order to acquire Chisholm from the Diamondbacks. Jeter, though, explained that the Marlins felt they were dealing from positions of depth when trading away Gallen, Trevor Richards, Nick Anderson, Sergio Romo and prospect Chris Vallimont. Those deals netted Chisholm and prospects Jesus Sanchez (Anderson, Richards) and Lewin Diaz (Romo, Vallimont) — adding some power upside to the organization.
Camargo has been so hard to watch I’d rather Charlie Culberson get the starts
Charlie had two hitless games and they moved away from him again. It doesn’t make much sense
Agreed camargo just looks totally lost at the plate
Adeiny Hechavarria would be a nice signing for the braves. His bat isn’t good, but at least he can make some plays at SS.
Camargo was messed up being made into ” super sub ” , he is still a good player.
It really through him off when they said he’d get starts multiple times a week at different position and then turned into a strait bench bat
When he was in the starting line up most days he was really good. might just be one of those players that can’t really be effective if they have to come off the bench
He’s been in the lineup pretty much every day Swanson has been out. In that times he’s hit .178 with a .537 OPS
and people still believe the Braves care about winning?!
I bet they still regret not going after Castellanos. Now they have to deal with the worst SS in baseball, the worst catchers in baseball, and two mediocre players in the outfield (Inciarte and Duvall).
@allourgods. Is this your mlbtr account Coppy?
Braves are still first in the division and have 3 guys with OPS over .900. You can’t predict injuries or the fact that flowers would fall off the face of the earth. I’d still take the braves roster over and other NL east team
I’m not the biggest fan of Ender, but calling him mediocre in the outfield is absurd. He’s a gold glove, top 5 CF’er in the field.
You act like Camargo has been at SS all season. He’s a place holder until September rolls around and Swanson is back for the stretch run.
I’m glad people like you aren’t baseball GM’s.
Ender is a below avg all around player
Yes because calling Inciarte mediocre means I’m referring to his defense.
Camargo is a liability to the team that already has bad pitching all over. There is no good excuse to not go after Adeiny right now…NONE!
I personally don’t like CC starting either, as he is not much better.
Right now, the Braves have to hope and pray Swanson returns this season because the season is over if he is out.
And if the braves sign Adeiny, you will complain that they got another mediocre player and should get real talent.
Not really knowing Swanson will be back (hopefully). He is the glue that will solidify the offense heading into the postseason (if they get there).
Now when we talk LF/RF, then maybe I will “complain” if they got somebody else not named Castellanos. Granted, Markakis might come back, but losing your RF for pretty much most of the end season and replacing him with garbage like Duvall is pretty much the summation of AA reign so far. “We will ride it out and hope to win. If we don’t, at least we kept the farm in the top 5”.
Right now the Braves have one of the worst 5-8 in baseball. They have 4 big holes to fill in the offseason and that is just on offense.
Lol your delusional
that Gallen trade could look terrible in due time for Miami. Chisholm is good and all, but Gallen looks like a stud already
It could also look really good for Miami if Chisholm becomes a star SS and Gallen settles into a middle of the rotation guy that was always his ceiling. Or it could just be a win win for both teams which is probably what will happen.
You are forgetting the final, most likely option. The lose-lose deal. It’s entirely possible that Chisholm doesn’t pan out and Gallen can’t maintain at the big league level. Many prospects better than Chisholm have failed and many pitchers better than Gallen have regressed. I would say at this point in time, the lose-lose is the most likely option of the four. It’s obviously not a guarantee, but if you had to bet on the four options, lose-lose would be the favorite.
Oof, You mean a #3 starter like that guy Kershaw for the Dodgers who is behind Ryu and Buehler in their rotation.
I wonder how all those Braves fans that cursed at the Donaldson signing are feeling now? Over and over I read about how the Braves were covered at 3rd base with Camargo. I always felt that last year was a fluke for Camargo just like Chris Johnson in 2013..
You’re trying to compare apples to oranges. I think if Camargo had been the starting 3B from Day 1 we very realistically could have seen an entirely different year from him.
We’ll never know though. I’m not as upset with the Donaldson signing because he has delivered, but trying to use Camargos year to discredit what he could have done isn’t an accurate assessment.
Probably because like everything else management has said in the past year they straight up lied how they planned to use Camargo to justify the Donaldson signing.
Donaldson has been good so not a knock on the decision, but at the time it was a questionable move after Camargo excelled and they had other weaknesses to spend on.
So… like always… they lied and said they had every intention to let Camargo get plenty of action
Yet even with Inciarte struggling Camargo was NEVER given regular at bats. This is Braves mismanagement of a solid player in my opinion, but others may disagree.
he’s had a horrible year, for all those trying to trade him you have to admit you are selling low and should value it as such
Camargo is not a starting SS he is a guy who can fill in for a week or so if need be. Camargo is not a 2B he is a guy who can fill in for a short time if need be.
Camargo is not an OF he shouldn’t be out there at all.
Camargo is what he is a switch hitting 3B that has limited power that needs to play everyday to be successful.
Unfortunately with his struggles this year his value will never be the same. He has failed in the super utility role but Charlie has thrived so it’s no lose there.
The Braves will never be able to trade him for what he is worth because if Donaldson is not resigned than 3B will be Riley’s.
I am actually hoping with Donaldson’s Southern roots and the fact the Braves overpaid him for the season he was coming off of that hopefully he accepts the qualifying offer and it allows Riley another year to develop hitting a breaking pitch.
or just spend money you saved up, enforce your financial flexibility, and build a formidable offense with Rendon.
The best part? You get to save your precious future ‘hall of fame’ prospects.
If Donaldson resigns you lose no prospects
Wishfull thinking. He’ll probably finish the season with a WAR close to 5.0. No way he accepts a QO. I think the best hope is for the Braves to make him a generous yet fair offer for 3 years (3/60), or maybe 3 with an option and hope he’s fine with it and isn’t looking for straight up stupid money. If I had to bet though I’d bet on the stupid money. Here’s for hoping that Riley can make adjustments at the plate and that May/June production wasn’t a fluke.
I don’t want Donaldson for 3 years the most I go is 2 with an option. With all the needs the Braves have I don’t think Donaldson will be a part of the team next year. I think they will give 3B to Riley with Camargo ready to step back in in case he flops.
Another thing is I read an article today relating to something I have been saying all season.
Why is a ruse Wilson not in the bullpen ???
I have been saying he is the future Closer
Josh isn’t taking the QO. This is his best chance to get a fat contract.
It’ seems close enough that the Nats could still justifiably rest Doolittle enough to not activate that option.
They’re in a dogfight for the WC. They really can’t be that concerned with the option to hurt their chance of making the playoffs. Maybe you’d use another guy with a 3 run lead in the ninth once in awhile but they have a horrendous bullpen outside of him.
In my opinion, Camargo needs to humble pie. He seems a little more lazy this year when he plays the game. His bat drags, he’s not running hard on hits, and when he’s forced to make a tough play, he fails.. prob because he isn’t practicing hard plays or is going slow all game and suddenly has to act fast… much like folty, a trip to the minors might be good
Then flip him during the off-season for a Catcher and Elite starting Pitcher, at least