Washington Nationals: Erick Fedde on the outside looking in

The fifth spot in the Washington Nationals’ starting rotation is currently up for grabs, but Erick Fedde appears to be on the outside looking in.

As each day passes, it becomes increasingly likely that the Washington Nationals will fill the fifth spot in their starting rotation with an in-house candidate. They have several fringe major leaguers who could potentially win the job, and the list continues to grow.

On Thursday, it was announced that the Nats re-signed veteran Edwin Jackson on a minor league deal. If Spring Training started today, Jackson, A.J. Cole, Erick Fedde, and Tommy Milone would compete for the final rotation spot.

Of these candidates, Cole appears to be the frontrunner. Fedde is an intriguing option, but he is likely on the outside looking in.

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Fedde, the Nats’ fourth-ranked prospect, struggled in his first major league stint last year. His three starts were against tough lineups–the Rockies, Cubs, and Mets–but he did not appear to be big league ready quite yet.

In three starts, Fedde pitched to an astronomical 9.39 ERA. Three starts is a small sample size, but there was definite cause for concern.

Fedde’s repertoire includes a sinker, splitter, slider, cutter, and change-up, but his secondary pitches are still a work in progress. His change-up, especially, is still developing, and it was difficult to distinguish between his fastball and change-up at times.

There are also concerns about Fedde’s maturity. He is still just 24, so he has time to learn, but he made some rookie mistakes throughout 2017. His most costly mistake was pitching through an injury. His season came to an abrupt finish in September, when it was revealed that he was pitching through a right forearm flexor strain.

Considering Fedde’s injury history, he must be completely honest regarding his health. He has already undergone Tommy John surgery, so he is at an increased risk of suffering an arm injury. As Koda Glover has also learned, pitching through injuries hurts both the player and the team.

All things considered, Fedde could use a little more seasoning before becoming a full-time major leaguer. There is no need to rush him to the majors, so he should spend another season pitching for AAA Syracuse.

The Nats should also avoid tinkering with Fedde too much in 2018. Due to the Nats’ horrific bullpen in the first half of 2017, they temporarily converted Fedde to bullpen duties. Switching from the rotation, to the bullpen, and back to the rotation appeared to stunt his development. If the Nats want Fedde to reach the high ceiling that they believe he has, they must let him be.

Next: Edwin Jackson brings needed rotation depth

Stranger things have happened, so Fedde beginning the season in the major league rotation cannot be completely ruled out, but it does not appear to be likely. He is a big part of the Nats’ future plans, but his time has not yet come.