Who will replace Tyler Clippard in the eighth inning?
Aug 20, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager
Matt Williams(9) removes relief pitcher
Tyler Clippard(36) from the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit:
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
After staying pat most of the offseason, the Nationals finally made a trade earlier this week that will directly impact the 2015 season. In an effort to fill a whole at second base that was left when Asdrubal Cabrera departed via free agency, the Nationals acquired veteran infielder Yunel Escobar from the Athletics in exchange for long-time Nationals set-up man Tyler Clippard.
While the deal was a good for the Nationals for many reasons, it created some issues for the Nationals bullpen – a bullpen that entered the offseason as one of the most dominant in baseball. First and foremost, the Nationals are going to miss Clippard’s production, which has been one of the bullpen’s biggest assets for years.
In seven seasons with the Nationals, Clippard went 34-24 with a 2.68 ERA and a WHIP of 1.047. Over that time, the reliever accumulated 34 saves (32 of which came in 2012) and was selected to the National League All-Star team twice.
The Escobar trade not only strips the Nationals of arguable their best reliever, but it also creates some serious logistical issues for the ‘pen.
For one, the Nationals have essentially lost their second-string closer. If Drew Storen were to struggle out of the closers role, or if he were to land on the disabled list, the Nationals no longer have a clear option to take his place.
A more immediate issue, however, is the fact that the Nationals need to figure out who will step in to take Clippard’s spot in the eighth inning. It should be noted that Clippard was likely going to leave via free agency next winter, so the Nationals would have had to deal with this issue down the road anyway.
But, because of the Escobar trade, replacing Clippard has suddenly become a pressing need for the Nationals and one that will have a major impact on the bullpen in 2015. As for who will replace the right-hander, the Nationals have several different options. And while we probably won’t know who will step into the eighth inning role until the season starts, it’s important to look at what options the team will have next season so we know what to expect. We’ll discuss a some of those options over the next few slides.
Oct 3, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher
Jerry Blevins(13) pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the sixth inning during game one of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports
Option 1: Promote the veterans…
While losing Clippard weakens the Nationals’ bullpen, the team is fortunate to have several veteran relievers that might be able to use their experience to succeed in the eighth inning role. Among these veterans are left-handers Jerry Blevins and Matt Thornton, and right-hander Craig Stammen.
Blevins, whom the Nationals acquired in a trade with the Athletics last offseason, struggled at times in his first season with the Nationals, going 2-3 with a 4.87 ERA. He did finish the season on a positive note, however, and did not allow a hit in three NLDS appearances.
The Nationals acquired Thornton on a waiver claim from the Yankees last season and the left-hander turned out to be a brilliant addition to the bullpen. Thornton pitched 11 1/3 scoreless innings for the Nationals while striking out eight and walking two.
Of the three players in this option, perhaps the most intriguing is Stammen, who has been used almost exclusively as a long reliever for years.
The right-hander has been a mainstay in the Nationals bullpen since 2012 and has done a great job in long-relief, eating up 242 2/3 innings the last three years while posting a 2.93 ERA over the last three seasons. With the Nationals trading Ross Detwiler earlier this offseason, Stammen will likely be back in a long-relief role in 2015, but it would be very interesting to see what he could accomplish in a late-innings role.
While all three of these veterans have a chance to take over the eighth inning role, the Nationals may be more inclined to choose from their arsenal of young pitchers, which we will discuss in the next slide, to replace Clippard in the eighth.
Jul 31, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher
Aaron Barrett(30) throws during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Option 2: Test the youngsters…
While the Nationals have several proven veterans that could step into the eighth inning role, they have an even greater number of young arms that could be on the verge of becoming dominant, late-inning relievers. Some of these pitchers include Aaron Barrett, Blake Treinen and A.J. Cole.
Barrett made the big league club out of Spring Training last season and, apart from a brief demotion to Triple-A Syracuse, he did not disappoint. The right-hander went 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 40 2/3 innings with the Nationals last season and was one of the most reliable weapons out of the bullpen all season long.
Barret’s dominance in the regular season earned him a spot on the team’s NLDS roster, but he looked nothing like his regular season self under the pressure of the postseason. In the seventh inning of Game 4 against the Giants, Barrett issued a costly walk, threw two wild pitches and retired only one batter while allowing the losing run to score – an unraveling that ultimately helped the Giants win the series in four games.
Treinen is another intriguing option for the Nationals. The right-hander profiles more as a starter, but his high-90’s sinker could be a huge weapon for the Nationals late in the game.
Treinen not only got some valuable major league experience last season, but he was also very successful on the mound during his time with the big league club, going 2-3 with a 2.49 ERA in 15 games (seven starts).
Cole, the team’s No.2 prospect, will have to fight his way onto the Nationals’ bullpen this spring and, since he is on track to join the Nationals’ rotation as early as 2016, it’s unlikely that he’ll be placed in a late-inning relief role. That said, the right-hander was dominant at Double-A and Triple-A last season and could be a major asset for the Nationals’ bullpen in 2015.
Apr 17, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher
Heath Bell(13) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Option 3: Rely on depth, free agency…
Along with the team’s steady supply of veterans and youngsters, the Nationals also have a few players in their pitching depth that have a chance – albeit, a slim one – to take over for Clippard in the eighth inning.
Of course, the most obvious of these is reliever Heath Bell, whom the Nationals signed to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league Spring Training earlier this offseason.
Bell, a three-time All-Star who not long ago was one of the best closers in the game, has seen his career decline dramatically in recent years and will likely have to be dominant this spring to make the Opening Day bullpen.
Despite his recent struggles, Bell has had great success in the past and if he can somehow return to his dominant form he could become a strong candidate to take over the setup role.
The Nationals also have several players, such as Manny Delcarmen, Rafael Martin and Xavier Cedeno, who could be used in the eighth inning, but none of those players are likely to make the Opening Day bullpen.
Another route the Nationals could take to replace Clippard is free agency, though the options are limited and expensive. The one name that stands out right now is Francisco Rodriguez – a free agent represented by agent Scott Borras, who is no stranger to making surprise, big-money bullpen deals with the Nationals (Rafael Soriano, anyone?).
But Rodriguez, who earned 44 saves with the Brewers last offseason, will demand closer-type money that the Nationals probably aren’t willing to pay.
Apr 4, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Aaron Barrett (30) throws during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Big Shoes to fill, but who will fill them?
The Escobar-Clippard trade left an undeniable hole in the Nationals’ bullpen, and while the team has many options to fill that hole, I believe Barrett will ultimately be the right man for the job in 2015.
The 27-year-old right-hander showed that he has what it takes to be a dominant, late-innings option last season and, when his command is right, his slider can be un-hittable. Yes, he imploded in the playoffs, But I’m confident that Barrett can learn from that experience and that it’ll ultimately help make him a better pitcher down the road.
We won’t know for sure who will take over the eighth inning until the regular season. One thing’s for certain, Tyler Clippard will be greatly missed in the Nationals’ bullpen. And whoever takes the job – whether it’s one player or a combination of several – has some very, very big shoes to fill.