Washington Nationals: 2017 trade deadline preview
By Ron Juckett
CLOSER
If healthy, Glover is the man. But, he is not.
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A back injury not only cost the Nats a win, but landed him on the disabled list. How soon he returns is a mystery Scooby Doo cannot untangle and therein lies the problem. The most sensible trade deadline pickup is a setup reliever. Assign the bullpen roles and cross your fingers.
Glover has durability issues. This is his second trip to the DL. All the talent in the world cannot shut games down if they are hurt. You will not win in October without a closer.
David Robertson, AJ Ramos, Tony Watson and Addison Reed are closer options. Wilson, Hand and Madson are out there. If the Nats are forced to trade for a closer, the price reaches the outrageous level. It will sting and the cost is huge.
Because Washington either could not or would not sign a closer this offseason, they have little leverage if Glover’s health or performance forces a trade. If Robertson’s the best guy out there, you take an extra look at Glover and roll the dice.
Yet, it is that back injury which makes a trade inevitable. Although piecing together a setup crew every night causes endless fan frustration it is essential they have a closer to give the game too. Glover can set up, but the trade talent is higher in setup than closer.
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Either way, something has to give.