Washington Nationals: Finding a closer on the open market

Shane Greene

Let’s say the Washington Nationals are willing to make Tanner Rainey the closer, they just want to groom him for the position rather than install him from day one. Shane Greene would be a perfect addition.

Greene currently serves as a setup man for the Atlanta Braves. He does have closing experience, a former All-Star with the Detroit Tigers as their ninth-inning guy.

As the setup man in Atlanta this year Greene had nine holds with a 2.60 earned run average. He pitched in the eighth inning or later in nearly 70% of the games he appeared in. He has not given up an earned run in his postseason appearances to date.

Even though he has closing experience, he has been away from the role for a year and a half (this may hurt Doolittle’s earning power as well). If the Nationals were to offer a sweetened one-year deal with an option on a second year they could land this guy. He could close for a year and then transition into a setup role when (if) Rainey is ready to take the job.

You may say, why would the Nationals need the second year, Will Harris is the setup guy. I am still not sold Harris plays out his contract in a Nationals uniform.

Depending on what direction the Nationals want to go, I think Greene is a good fit.