Update: 4:33 p.m. ET: After the posting of this story, Jesse Dougherty reported that Norris and the Nationals remain in discussions, but do NOT have an agreement in place.
The Washington Nationals desperately need bullpen help, but ownership wants to stay under the luxury tax. The solution? Bud Norris.
The Washington Nationals might be getting bullpen help.
This morning an insider at MLB Network, Jon Heyman, reported that the Nationals are interested in free agent Bud Norris. This was then confirmed by Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, who said the Nationals have actually been in contact with Norris’s representation.
League sources: Nats are interested in Bud Norris, who had 28 saves last year and is a free agent. A good fit. They need pen help but still desire to stay under the 206M threshold.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 9, 2019
Source: The Nationals have had recent discussions with reliever Bud Norris's representation. Norris signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays in early March and was released from it a week ago.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) April 9, 2019
This afternoon, Brittany Ghiroli from The Athletic confirmed the rumors by reporting that Norris and the Nationals have an agreement in place, pending a physical, for a minor league deal.
Norris had a 3.54 ERA in 57.2 innings with the St.Louis Cardinals last year, where he recorded a career-high 28 saves. Before that, he recorded another 19 saves with LAA in 2017. Norris has established himself as a fairly decent reliever over the past two years but was recently released by the Toronto Blue Jays after not being able to get a spot on their roster.
The Nationals bullpen has unquestionably been an abomination, and one of the most infuriating moments of every game comes in the 8th inning. The Nats now have an astronomical 10.17 ERA this season, dead last in the entire league. Nationals fans are upset and rightfully so because the bullpen that was put together of potential comeback players and pitchers who have barely proven themselves has cost the team in the wins column.
I think it’s really great how Rizzo is taking action to try and tackle the issue before we get too far into the season, but if the Blue Jays didn’t want Norris, why would the Nationals? I understand he is probably a good team guy and still has some out left on his arm, but Rizzo has already gone the route of putting together a “budget bullpen” once before. It hasn’t worked, and almost every single acquisition of the offseason has gone poorly so far.
Trevor Rosenthal, the laughing stock of the entire MLB right now, has an infinity ERA. He was supposed to be our 8th inning set up man, and now he looks like he can’t even get an out. If the Nationals really want to get serious about fixing this bullpen, perhaps looking in the direction of Craig Kimbrel would be the better option.