Washington Nationals: 3 takeaways from Winter Meetings
The Washington Nationals were not active in this year’s Winter Meetings, but they were busy. Here are some things to watch for as the off-season moves along.
With the 2017 Winter Meetings over, the Washington Nationals turn to Winterfest then the holidays as the off-season marches on.
As the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins made headlines, the Nats stood in the back of the proverbial room and took notes. Expectations of an active week were low before Monday and remained. Re-signing Brandon Kintzler was the highlight.
There were rumors. Jake Arrieta, J.D. Martinez, Zack Greinke’s names made the rounds on social media. But, at no point were the Nats on the verge of a stunner. Except the beat reports missing sleep, the 2017 Winter Meetings in Orlando will go down in Washington history as long forgotten.
Because the transaction websites dare not churning out virtual ink by the carload for Washington does not mean Mike Rizzo and company sat by the pool with a cool drink. They might have attended a seminar or two. Seriously, the groundwork for what is coming later happened this week.
If you expected a show like last year with breathless trade attempts, sorry to disappoint.
Winners of consecutive National League East crowns, there is not much to shop for. Although the Nats have needs for catching help and starting pitching, patience is the buzzword.
What did the Nats accomplish? More than we publicly know. You know Rizzo and the rest of the front office like keeping the rest of us guessing. Even with little for public consumption, here are three takeaways from a week in sunny Orlando.
THE LAW FIRM RETURNS
Despite competition from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Nats brought Brandon Kintzler back into the fold.
This odd deal guarantees $5 million this upcoming season then carries a strange option that Washington can trigger for $10 million, Kintzler for $5 million or a buyout. Or—special TV bonus—there is a potential vesting option that could trigger a third year.
Confused? We are too.
This deal smacks of Rizzo’s genius. He keeps a popular player around for a discounted contract while keeping the vaunted bullpen depth intact. Not bad.
Whether Kintzler pitches the seventh, eighth or ninth, he can fill whatever role new manager Dave Martinez wants. Chances are he pitches the seventh when needed and spells Ryan Madson in the eighth to cut workload.
Kintzler’s return takes the pressure off Koda Glover as he returns from injury along with fellow righty Shawn Kelley. How much remains in Kelley’s arm remains a mystery, but he can ease back into whatever role suits him best.
It is worth noting of the 12 Nats who filed for free agency, Kintzler and Ryan Raburn returned while the others remain unsigned. It is a tribute to Washington that no one ran away yet. The Nats will not keep everybody, but expect others to return.
OBSERVING IS GOOD
By now, you know Mike Rizzo is one shrewd general manager.
Because he did not create major headlines, do not assume the brain trust flew down to Miami for the Monday Night Football game between the Dolphins and New England Patriots. That was Derek Jeter, new Marlins owner.
Instead, Rizzo took stock of the increasing prices of bullpen and starting pitching help. How far talks went with Scott Boras for Arrieta remains to be seen. It is not a surprise J.D. Martinez’s name came up in conversation.
With the Colorado Rockies filling their bullpen needs, along with watching which prospects moved in the few trades made, Rizzo comes back to Washington with a sense of where costs are and the best way to fill needs.
Although Washington has holes, the difference between this and last year is the Nats think they addressed their biggest one in changing the coaching staff. A top starter is nice, but they carry potentially four already.
Patience works to Washington’s advantage. With a projected payroll now at $174 million for Opening Day, the Nats must spend whatever is left wisely. This is a “cat and mouse” game now and Rizzo is one of he best cats out there.
KEEPING HARPER
Although it popped up recently before Orlando, the openness between the Nats and Bryce Harper in trying to workout a contract extension is encouraging.
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Yes, Harper might hit the open market. Even if he files for free agency, the door remains open for him staying with Washington.
As both sides admit to talks, while keeping any negotiations private and out of the press, the chance of a deal being struck before next season begins increases. As with Stephen Strasburg in 2016, any talks are low key and cordial.
The difference between the two Boras clients is the stature of Harper in the sport. When Instagram photos of Harper spending time with friends draws headlines, it is hard to accomplish anything in secret.
Both sides have told you they want to get something done. When you consider the influx of money into baseball, Harper’s demands of $35-$40 million a year are in line with his potential value.
You can also understand why the Nats are reluctant to hand out such a huge contract. Regardless of how much the Lerner family or the franchise is worth, a $400 million contract is a huge deal.
Next: Which Nats are HOF-bound?
If you are looking for a bold take from this week, expect a deal to get done. All the signs are there saying they want to.