Washington Nationals: Matt Albers deserves extension
A free agent at season’s end for the Washington Nationals, Matt Albers should be at the top of the list of keepers. An amazing story all the way around.
Whenever the Washington Nationals start re-signing potential free agents for next season, Matt Albers is near the top of the list. Invited to Spring Training and released in March, the Nats signed Albers back on April 4. Boy, is Washington glad they did.
Following a terrible 2016 with the Chicago White Sox, not much was expected from Albers. With a 6.31 ERA and 1.675 WHIP over 51.1 innings, he was a throw away part for a bullpen building from scraps.
Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 23rd round of the 2001 draft, the right-hander made a career bouncing around Major League Baseball as an early setup pitcher. The Nats are the eighth team Albers played for and the most successful.
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Albers filled every role manager Dusty Baker put him in. From the primary eighth-inning man to emergency closer to getting four outs in the middle of a game, he does it with flair.
His 5.4 H/9 is a career best. So is his 0.904 WHIP and 9.9 K/9. Last year, Albers allowed 67 hits and struck out 30 in 58 games. This season, over 53 games and 52 innings, the hit total is 31 while he has fanned 57. His ERA+ of 255 leads the staff, including Max Scherzer.
With the crazy way September games play out, there is an outside chance Albers gets 10 wins. He is 7-2 with an ERA of 1.73. The last time he earned five wins was in 2010 with the Baltimore Orioles.
Because of the endless slew of injuries, there are no hidden surprises in the minors to take a job away. Albers outlasted them all. He pitches well in high-leverage situations and remained strong as the rest of the bullpen melted the early part of the year.
If Brandon Kintzler leaves, you can see Albers landing the seventh-inning role next year with roughly the same workload. He will not dazzle you with 100-mph fastballs or sharp-breaking pitches, but will strike batters out and induce good contact.
The Nats got him for $1.15 million in 2017. At double the price, he remains an affordable pitcher who performs well. At 35 when next spring rolls around, he can buy time for Wander Suero and Austin Adams to develop without pressure.
For Albers, this must be his dream season. From being released to his first postseason is an incredible jump. A new baby awaits in his personal life. With his wife okay after the extensive floods from Hurricane Harvey—Albers is from Pasadena, Texas—you cannot ask for more than a good family and job.
Next: Fedde's tough season ends
Chalk another great move for Mike Rizzo and Albers buying into the Nats.