Washington Nationals: Why they should sign Brandon Kintzler this winter

With the success Brandon Kintzler has had with the Washington Nationals this year, they need to bring him back in 2018

Since the Washington Nationals acquired the big three of Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, and Brandon Kintzler last month, they have formed one of the best late inning trios in the game. When the team made the Doolittle and Madson deal, they had some of the future in mind with both of those former A’s under team control next season.

However, Kintzler is a free agent at the end of the year. With the way he has pitched since joining the Nats, the organization needs to find a way to bring Kintzler back next year. Last year, they acquired a rental closer in Mark Melancon, but he ended up signing with the Giants this winter.

Despite Thursday night’s blown save, Kintzler has still put up impressive numbers in D.C. In 12 games, he has given up three runs on eight hits, struck out eight, and walked four in 12 innings.

When you look at the possible closer options in free agency next year, names that will pop up include Wade Davis and Addison Reed as well as potentially Greg Holland ($15 million player option). The names aren’t as big as Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen last offseason, but there’s still talent available.

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Relievers can cost a lot of money in free agency and teams will be looking to add reliable relief options this winter. However, there is no reason why the Nats should break up the reliable trio as their window will still be open to contend for a championship.

Kintzler is not a pitcher that is going to rely on his fastball velocity. Yes, the average velocity on the heater is up to 93 miles per hour this year, but he has also used his slider over 14% of the time. According to Fangraphs, that is about double the amount he used that pitch last year with the Twins.

It’s tough to predict how a bullpen will do because there are many factors involved. However, it’s hard to ignore Kintzler’s numbers in tight situations this season. With runners in scoring position, hitters are batting .177 with one extra base hit (double). With runners on, that number goes slightly up to .195 with one home run.

If Doolittle remains the closer, the Nats should still look to bring Kintzler back because of his versatility in the late innings. He does have a career ERA of 2.56 in the seventh inning and teams have a .136 average against him in the eighth inning this year.

As a groundball pitcher, Kintzler can always rely on finding a way to get the key groundball at the right time. A perfect example of that occurred Monday night when he got Max Stassi to ground into a double play with the bases loaded in the eighth.

This season, when Kintzler has entered a game, the Twins and Nats are a combined 48-9. As far as how he’s done with the Nats, the Washington Nationals are 11-1 in his appearances. That one loss was his debut back on August 2 when he finished a 7-0 loss against the Marlins.

Next: Bullpen tinkering will continue

It might be tough to get Kintzler to re-sign, but the Washington Nationals should bring him back next year to continue the success that this bullpen has been having since the All-Star break.

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