District Daily: Heath Bell could end up being a steal for Nationals
By Pablo Roa
Apr 3, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Heath Bell (13) celebrates on the field after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning DoD readers, start off your day with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web in today’s District Daily:
Heath Bell Could End Up Being A Steal For Washington Nationals
At first glance, it might appear that Heath Bell‘s career is pretty much over. Previously one of baseball’s best closers, Bell has posted just a 4.91 ERA over the past three years while spending time in three different organizations. Because of that, he was forced to sign a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals this offseason that will allow him to compete for a job in Spring Training, but certainly does not guarantee him one.
Despite all the negativity surrounding him, however, Bell can still be a useful reliever moving forward.
Bell’s 2014 season was the worst of his career. After being acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the season, he posted an ugly 7.27 ERA in just 17.1 innings before being released. He then threw another 16.2 innings in the minors with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles with middling results. Read full article here.
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Nationals’ third baseman Anthony Rendon put himself on the map in 2014
(Patrick Reddington, Federal Baseball)
Washington Nationals’ third baseman Anthony Rendon had the breakout campaign some predicted for him in 2014 and he’s ready to move on and keep improving next season, wherever the Nats ask him to play.
After a .287/.351/.473, 39 double, 21 home run, +6.6 fWAR regular season in the nation’s capital in 2014, Washington Nationals’ third baseman Anthony Rendon’s second major league campaign ended with the 24-year-old, 2011 1st Round pick going 7 for 20 in the Nats’ NLDS loss to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants.
“I guess that made it a little bit easier for me,” Rendon told reporters when asked about the Giants going on to win it all. “That might be terrible to say, but to say you lost to the eventual World Series champs… but either way a loss is a loss, so it sucks.” Read full article here.