Washington Nationals: Mike Rizzo Says Team Staying Internal For Closer
By Ricky Keeler
On Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio Monday morning, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo talked more about the competition for closer
Throughout this spring training, the main storyline that will be talked about surrounding Washington Nationals is going to be over who is the closer on April 3 against the Miami Marlins. On Monday at West Palm Beach, general manager Mike Rizzo talked about the three pitchers that are in the running for the spot with Jim Bowden and Craig Mish on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio this morning.
Mike Rizzo told us the Nats closer will come from Shawn Kelley, Blake Treinin or Koda Glover #Nationals
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) February 20, 2017
Could the Washington Nationals look to add another reliever into the mix between now and Opening Day? They do have Joe Nathan in camp as a non-roster invitee, but his opt-out of his minor league deal occurs on March 24. Rizzo also told Bowden and Mish that he hasn’t really talked to any teams about trades for relievers recently:
Rizzo told us that they have NOT had trade conversations for a closer in “quite sometime”. They think answer is in camp.@SiriusXMFantasy
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) February 20, 2017
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This would make sense because if the Nats try to make a deal now, teams would take advantage of their desperation at closer. If you thought the Adam Eaton deal was an overpay, imagine what an overpay for a proven closer might look like.
When looking at Rizzo’s comments, this says a lot about where Glover is at during his stage of his career. Less than two years since he was drafted in the eighth round out of Oklahoma State, he now has a chance to compete for a closer. Late last week, Bowden said on MLB Network Radio he thinks Glover will be the closer by June:
.@JimBowden_ESPN predicts Koda Glover will be the #Nationals closer by June "you'll be thankful you didn't spend on [Kenley] Jansen"
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 17, 2017
There are two questions that Glover will have to answer this spring. The first is how healthy he is after missing the end of last season because of a hip injury. After Righis health, the question is how quickly manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux trust him in a “high leverage situation.”
Right now, Kelley and Treinen should be the two favorites for the role because Kelley has the experience and Treinen showed he could be trusted in late game situations last year. Now, moving to the ninth inning would be different for Treinen, but he is more ready for the role right now than Glover is.
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It’s safe to say that a trade for a reliever isn’t going to happen anytime soon. The Washington Nationals seem content with what they have or at least willing to try out their internal options before they make any kind of move. Right now, that seems like the right way to go.