Fansided
District On Deck

Washington Nationals: Top 3 free agents signed in November, ranked

By James Simmons

Kurt Suzuki #28 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on September 21, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Kurt Suzuki #28 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on September 21, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Joel Hanrahan was signed as a starting pitcher, but turned into a closer during his time with the Washington Nationals.
Joel Hanrahan #38 of the Washington Nationals pitches during a baseball game against the Florida Marlins on April 17, 2009 at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

#3 Joel Hanrahan

A former 2nd round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Joel Hanrahan spent seven years in the minor leagues before the Washington Nationals signed him to a November free agent contract in 2006.

Hanrahan actually started eleven games in his first season with the Nationals going 5-3 with a 6.00 earned run average before the team moved him to the bullpen the following year. On the 2008 team which won just 59 games Hanrahan was a solid piece of the bullpen.

Appearing in the second most games as a pitcher for the Nationals, Hanrahan won six games and saved nine more, taking over late in the season for Jon Rauch as the new closer.

Entrenched as the closer entering the 2009 season Hanrahan struggled mightily. He blew three out of his first five save chances and was carrying an ERA north of 8.00 after his first 8 games. He also blew his two final save chances with the team before they decided to move on from him entirely.

Along with Lastings Milledge, Hanrahan was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Sean Burnett and Nyger Morgan.

The change of scenery worked for Hanrahan as he became an All-Star closer for the Pirates.

All told, Joel Hanrahan was 12-9 with 14 saves in 115 games during his time in Washington.

Home/Nationals News