Washington Nationals: Handicapping the race for 5th starter
By Ron Juckett
TOMMY MILONE
The weakest of the four names on the list, Tommy Milone has the most to pitch for.
A former Nats first-round draft pick, Milone has the rare chance to make the team with the player he was traded for. We can hope he swaps a few stories with Gio Gonzalez. At nearly 31, this is not Milone’s last chance, but father time is fumbling for the car keys to drive him home.
This past season was a disaster. In stints with the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers, Milone posted a 1-3 record with a 7.63 ERA and 1.634 WHIP. Over 48.1 innings, he surrendered 15 home runs and a 12.1 H/9 ratio.
Milone’s odds are long. In this golden day and age of power pitching, he is a throw back to a contact pitcher who lives in the strike zone. A terrible combination in today’s baseball.
Back where he started, Milone has the chance to rebuild his career. A good spring lands him a job somewhere. A great one earns him a rotation spot in Washington. He provides depth for the Nats in the minors as a ready talent to fill holes if needed.
You can take a risk with Milone over Fedde because you are not risking ruining Fedde’s confidence out of the gate. If Milone implodes, you are not risking anything long term.
A low-risk move that might pay a medium reward.