Could the Washington Nationals look within the division to help address their bullpen needs with David Phelps?
As the Washington Nationals bullpen continues to struggle, the need for multiple relievers continues to increase by the day. The trade deadline is less than a month away, but there aren’t many proven closers available for trade yet. If the Nats acquire setup men, one name they could look to get is David Phelps from the Miami Marlins.
It’s always tough to make trades within the same division. The Nats and Marlins have not traded with each other since Nick Johnson went to the Marlins in 2009. However, with Miami looking to sell the team, it could be a unique situation this year.
When you watch the Washington Nationals play and how Dusty Baker uses the bullpen, it gets the feeling that he picks the name out of a hat each time because nobody has a set role, whether it is the closer or a setup man. Phelps would be the perfect fit if that trend were to continue because he is a versatile reliever.
This season, Phelps is 2-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 38 games. The former Yankees starter has had good strikeout totals each of the last two seasons. After having 11.8 K’s per nine innings last year, the 30-year-old has 9.6 K’s per nine this season.
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Despite the good strikeout numbers, Phelps does tend to walk a lot of batters. He has walked over three batters per nine innings in each of the last two seasons. Last month, he had eight walks in 13 appearances (ERA of 5.40).
Another part of Phelps’ season that could lead to a team not wanting to trade for him is his drastic home/road splits. At Marlins Park this year, he has a 0.83 ERA in 20 games. Meanwhile, on the road, the ERA jumps up drastically to 6.98 in 19 games.
If the Nats had their choice, they would probably go after closer A.J. Ramos instead of Phelps, but the asking price for Ramos should be much higher and it could cost them one of their top four prospects (Victor Robles, Carter Kieboom, Juan Soto, Erick Fedde). Phelps is a free agent after next season.
As Phelps is now a full time reliever, the velocity has gone up on his four seam, fastball. According to Fangraphs, his fastball averages out at 94.4 miles-per-hour. Also, he has a cutter, curveball, and a changeup in his arsenal.
While Phelps has been mainly used by the Marlins in the seventh inning, he has been a much better pitcher in the eighth. During that inning, he has a 0.51 ERA and has 21 strikeouts to five walks.
Phelps may not be the perfect candidate for the Washington Nationals bullpen, but he should be one of many options that the team looks at to try to improve the weakest unit of their team.