Washington Nationals: 5 free agents they should consider
By Drew Douglas
Pat Neshek
The Nats had one of the best bullpens in the league throughout the second half, thanks to mid-season acquisitions Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, and Brandon Kintzler. However, Kintzler is now a free agent, creating a need for a late-inning reliever.
Veteran reliever Pat Neshek is a perfect candidate to fill this need. He spent the first half of 2017 pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies before getting traded to the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline. Between the two teams, Neshek pitched to a 1.59 ERA in 71 games.
Despite the fact that Neshek is 37, he is still one of the most reliable relievers in the league due to his deceptive submarine motion. In 2017, he did not allow an earned run until his 15th appearance (May 14), when he allowed a home run to Michael Taylor.
To make his 2017 season even more impressive, his two home ballparks, Citizens Bank Park and Coors Field, are two of the most hitter-friendly parks in the league. Somehow, at 37 years old, Neshek managed to put together a tremendous season in two of the most hitter-friendly parks in the league.
Neshek also has outstanding stats, both in the regular season and postseason throughout his 11-year career. In the regular season, he has pitched to a 2.75 ERA in 494 games and in the postseason, he has pitched to a 3.86 ERA in 14 games.
The Nats have World Series aspirations, but have yet to advance out of the NLDS since returning to DC in 2005. Because of this, they will be seeking players with postseason experience and success; Neshek provides both of these.
If Kintzler departs in free agency, the Nats will have a need for a late-inning reliever. There will be a few solid options, but they can’t go wrong with Neshek.