WASH: 3 players Nationals should sign to round out spring roster
With the offseason winding down and the key pieces already in place, the Washington Nationals can comb the bargain bin and find a couple veterans to bring in on minor league contracts. Having minor league depth is necessary as injuries and ineffectiveness rear their head over the course of a long baseball season.
At the moment, the Nationals have one open spot on the 40-man roster, which will likely be filled with a non-roster invitee who performs well at camp. Right now, my money is on Gerardo Parra claiming that spot, earned or not. However, other players could force the Nationals’ hand to remove someone from the roster to clear way if said player has a great showing in Spring Training.
In early December we looked at three players the Nationals should sign to minor league contracts, and they did bring in one of them. There are still several players in the free agent pool who can work their way onto a roster and produce.
Three players the Washington Nationals should sign to minor league contracts before Spring Training.
With the additions of Alex Avila, Blake Swihart and Welington Castillo, the catching unit seems to have the reinforcements they need. The outfield is also in good shape. The ongoing questions revolving around Carter Kieboom at third base are concerning and a team can never have enough pitching depth. We’ll begin there.
Keone Kela
Every so often the Nationals bullpen goes through a complete overhaul. However, there will be a lot of familiar faces back with the team this year. The team did add a new closer in Brad Hand, a lefty specialist in Sam Clay, and potentially a long-man in Rogelio Armenteros. Are the Nationals ready to give meaningful innings to Dakota Bacus or Ryne Harper?
Keone Kela is coming off a season where he battled right forearm tightness which cost him all but three games. In six years pitching for the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates, Kela has a 3.24 ERA (3.30 FIP), and strikes out eleven hitters per nine innings. In 2018 he saved 24 games for the Rangers, and while the Nationals are set at the closer position, having an extra guy who can handle high leverage situations is always a good thing.
There are some in the industry who think Kela will command a guaranteed contract. At this point in the game, I am sure he could be had for a minor league contract with the possibility to earn his keep when he makes the roster. Brandon Kintzler signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Philadelphia Phillies recently which would pay him $3M plus incentives should he make the roster.
Kela is the type of power arm the Nationals need on call.
Cam Bedrosian
The Nationals have signed a handful of pitchers to minor league contracts thus far who will compete for jobs in Spring Training. Aaron Barrett, Luis Avilan, Paolo Espino, and Javy Guerra, are all guys who will most likely be reassigned to the minors three weeks into camp. They are good pitchers, though not special pitchers. Nothing separates them from the hordes of other relievers on the market. When push comes to shove though, they’ll be needed to get outs if there is an injury on the big club. Having a couple extra pitchers like this wouldn’t hurt.
Cam Bedrosian is one of these pitchers. He is a veteran guy with decent numbers who is also coming off an injury shortened season. A right abductor strain limited Bedrosian to just 14.2 innings for the Los Angeles Angels a year ago, though he will be ready come camp time. Throw out a dreadful rookie campaign and the seven-year veteran has an ERA of 3.49 with an even better FIP.
Relievers like Bedrosian, though dwindling in numbers this late in the offseason, are still a dime a dozen, meaning he’d sign for a no-frills minor league contract. Bring him in, give him an opportunity to make the team. If he doesn’t, stash him in the minors as injury protection.
The former first round pick is the son of former Cy Young Award winner, Steve Bedrosian.
Maikel Franco
The Nationals will begin the year with Carter Kieboom as the third baseman. An offseason filled with Kris Bryant pseudo rumors, Eugenio Suarez real rumors, and Justin Turner wishful thinking will all be for not. The Nationals have backed Kieboom, recanted on Kieboom, and seem to be moving forward with Kieboom as the Opening Day third sacker. If he struggles like he did his first three opportunities, I fear that will be the end of Kieboom in DC. He won’t be sent down, he’ll be sent out.
There are a couple in house options in Josh Harrison and Starlin Castro. Neither seems like a great permanent option. Jordy Mercer was signed to a minor league contract in hopes of providing depth on the infield, yet he has only played five games at third base and has a career OPS of .702.
Maikel Franco on the other hand, has seven years experience at third base and is coming off a year where he hit .278 with an OPS of .778, with the Kansas City Royals. After the Royals non-tendered Franco, he hit the open market and hasn’t been scooped up yet. While Franco may sign a minor league contract, he may have an early opt out clause were he not to get called up at a certain point early in the season. By that point the Nationals may know whether Kieboom is going to work out or not. If he does, cut Franco loose. If he doesn’t, call up Franco to be the experienced presence at third base until that long term option is worked out.
Next. Making a plea for Big Donkey Day. dark