Washington Nationals: 2017 trade deadline preview
By Ron Juckett
BULLPEN SETUP
No one is happy with the bullpen. Balls fly out of the yard enough to distract air traffic controllers over at Reagan National Airport.
Dusty Baker trusts nobody, leaving tiring starters to get overworked. Shawn Kelley’s on the disabled list. Blake Treinen’s confidence was last seen on a milk carton. When Matt Albers and Ollie Perez are your aces along with Enny Romero, when he throws strikes, you have problems.
This is not 1985. Washington cannot expect seven innings from a starter and two from the closer. That is if they know who is closing. That gets it’s own slide. Would someone please return Koda Glover?
The return of Sammy Solis bolsters the left-handers and probably ends the need for Brad Hand from San Diego.
Regardless of who closes, they cannot bridge games to close. Ryan Madson, Justin Wilson and others can do that but will demand a high price. Although you can try them at closer, the best fit is setting up. And also sets up another high-cost trade.
The saving grace is playoff games are bullpen affairs, and this pen has improved. It is not great or legendary in a good way, but can give you multiple innings of good ball. Unless Blanton and Kelley give up home runs.
Fedde is a wild card once he gets the call, but do not expect miracles.