As the Washington Nationals search for bullpen help, the Oakland Athletics are willing to trade a pair of relievers. Will it happen?
The Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics have seriously discussed a trade involving Ryan Mason and Sean Doolittle.
How far along they are or who the Nats may send to Oakland for the reliever duo remains unclear, but Ken Rosenthal’s news of the talks made the rounds before Saturday’s game. If the deal happens, Washington gets both a closer and the setup pitcher they need.
Madson and Doolittle are having good seasons for an Athletics team going nowhere. Doolittle, a lefty, is the likely closer candidate while the righty Madson sets up. Sonny Gray, a long-prized starter, is not part of the package.
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Doolittle is cheap. This year, he makes $2.63 million and costs $4.38 million next year. At 30, he has two team options for 2019 and 2020 for $6.25 million average a season with a $500k buyout.
On the field, he earned an All-Star invite in 2014 as Oakland’s closer. This year, he is their eighth-inning pitcher with good results.
Over 21.1 innings, Doolittle has 31 strikeouts and a career-best 13.1 K/9 rate. His control is superb, walking only two. Add his 12 surrendered hits to the mix and you get a WHIP of 0.656, around his 0.734 mark from when he closed. Injury issues are an issue as he missed 41 days this year with arm issues.
Madson is an old friend from the Philadelphia Phillies who has a ton of playoff experience.
Resurrecting his career with the Kansas City Royals two years ago, he was part of their incredible championship bullpen. With Oakland, he closed last year with mixed results but found his stride this year setting up Santiago Casilla.
Madson has not allowed a run over his last 7.1 innings. Outside of one bad game against the Nats, he has not surrendered multiple runs in a game this year. Now a seventh-inning pitcher, he has 39 strikeouts over 39.1 innings.
If you wonder why he is not the best closer candidate, Madson tallied 30 last year. But his ERA jumped to 3.62 from 2.13 and his WHIP flared to 1.284 from 0.963. This season’s numbers are outstanding. His ERA is 2.06 while the WHIP is 0.788. No need to add pressure. Let him set up.
A grizzled veteran at 36, Madson will put the Nats over the competitive balance tax limit by himself. Under contract for next year, he will make $7.67 million this year.
As individuals, they are not on the Mark Melancon-scale of pitcher as the Nats scored last year at the deadline. Together, they form a stable duo ready for October and a reassurance to queasy fans the Nats are addressing their biggest need.
Next: Jackson deserves rotation shot
All you can really ask for in this push for a World Series.