Nationals: Rogelio Armenteros a good low risk, high reward addition
By claiming pitcher Rogelio Armenteros off waivers, the Washington Nationals added a power arm with a lot of upside to the roster.
A common theme during the each offseason is the retooling of the Washington Nationals bullpen. When free agency started this year, Nationals fans had hopes the team would sign a big name free agent. An Alex Colome, Liam Hendricks, or Brad Hand, would do the trick. He may not be of the same caliber as those names, but Rogelio Armenteros has the potential to be something special.
Armenteros joins Sam Clay as the two pitchers who have been added to the roster since the offseason began. A duo who has a combined five games of major league experience between them. All of them by Armenteros.
Signed out of Cuba by the Houston Astros, Armenteros appeared on the Top 30 Prospect List in 2019 as the tenth best pitcher in the organization. He debuted with the big club the same year, making a couple of starts as well as pitching out of the bullpen.
For the Nationals he figures to be a bullpen guy, either in mop up or long relief. In his short time in the majors, Armenteros averaged a strikeout per inning and had a WHIP of 1.22.
This is a very small sample size of course, though from the numbers Armenteros put up in all levels of the minor leagues, there is a lot to be encouraged about here. He sat out all of 2020 recovering from elbow surgery and if healthy he’ll prove to be a nice, cheap, addition to the bullpen.
The Nationals still sit with six open spots on the 40-man roster. This move does not hamstring them at all, and puts a guy on the roster who has an option to the minors left. At 26 years of age, Armenteros is young, controllable, and well worth the gamble.
Next. Maikel Franco a cost efficient option at third base. dark
Armenteros was kicked off the Astros 40-man roster and claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in November and when the Diamondbacks tried to sneak him through waivers, the Nats pounced.
He’ll prove to be a nice addition to the organization and for what he costs, the price is right.