Daniel Stange Signs Minor League Deal with Washington Nationals
By Ryan Ritchey
The Washington Nationals have picked up another Minor League pitcher. Daniel Stange is his name and he is coming to the Nationals from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He also pitched for the San Diego Padres in 2013. Here is the official tweet.
The #Nats have agreed to terms on a Minor League deal w/an invite to Major League Spring Training with right-handed reliever Daniel Stange
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) November 21, 2013
Stange posted a 4.52 ERA, while pitching is just over 50 games. He is only 27 with room to grow and has a power arm. He struck out 10 batters per nine innings in 2013. He has the potential to pitch in the bigs.
He made it to the majors last season with the Angels and pitched in three games. He posted an ERA just over sixteen. Yeah, sixteen. He may be a guy that has AAAA stuff, but it is worth a shot. He has connections with Mike Rizzo as you can see in the following tweet.
#Nats have signed RHP Daniel Stange to minor-league contract. 4.52 ERA this year with Padres, Angels AAA teams. Drafted by Rizzo w/ Dbacks.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) November 21, 2013
It can never hurt to have too many arms hanging around in the farm system; you never know when you might need one at some point. He also was invited to Major League Spring Training, so he can come out and prove himself and maybe make the roster out of the spring. I see him starting in AAA and maybe getting a shot later in the year when the rosters expand to 40-man.