Nationals: Three Former Players Washington Should Go After

Greg Holland

Greg Holland has already spent two separate stints with Washington, so why not make it three? The former AL Reliever of the Year was apart of the Nationals bullpen in 2018 and spent time in the team’s minor league system in 2019. Holland has only thrown 21.1 innings with Washington at the pro level, but he left a lasting impression in my mind. I was an advocate for bringing him back in 2019, but instead, he signed with the Diamondbacks. Now that he has once again reached the open market, it is time Washington makes him a key part of the bullpen moving forward.

From 2011-2017, Holland was one of the best relievers in the game. Over that time he was a three-time All-Star, while also being named 2014 AL Reliever of the Year and 2017 NL Comeback Player of the Year. And let’s not forget that he also led the NL in saves in 2017. His peak came in 2013, when he went 2-1, with a 1.21 ERA, 103 strikeouts, and a 1.36 FIP, while going 47 for 50 in save opportunities. Since 2017, Holland has played for four different teams with mixed results.

Washington has just over a projected $47 million to work with and they need to allocate the money evenly. Instead of splurging on a reliever, Washington should bring back the cost-effective Holland. When he was with the Nats, he posted a .84 ERA and most recently posted a 1.91 ERA in 28 games with the Royals. Holland’s time as a lights out closer has come to an end, but as long as Washington doesn’t overwork him (2019 with the Diamondbacks comes to mind) he can still perform at a top-level.