Nationals: Davey Martinez right to keep competition for fifth starter open
In need of a fifth starter, the Washington Nationals are holding open tryouts this spring to hopefully fill the void. Three of the most common names being heard are Joe Ross, Erick Fedde, and Austin Voth. Whether we believe him or not, manager Davey Martinez says the competition will not be limited to just these three.
Martinez says it's too early in camp to narrow down the fifth-starter competition to Fedde, Ross and Voth. He's liked what he's seen from some of the Nationals' young arms so far and wants to give them more of a look before eliminating any names
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) February 26, 2021
Correct. Every person in camp with a right or left arm, who can find the strike zone on a regular basis, should also be considered for the role as well.
The Washington Nationals would be wise to take a long and hard look at all the capable pitchers this spring as they look for a fifth starter.
Safe to say the Nationals season will hinge on the performance of their starting rotation. The power hitters brought in can do their job, though if the other team scores more runs, the end result isn’t the desired one.
While we expect Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin to rebound after down years last season, and Stephen Strasburg to regain health and dominance, the jury is still out on the back of the rotation.
Veteran Jon Lester was signed and where I do support the move, he is 37 years old and coming off a pretty rough campaign with the Chicago Cubs. The uncertainty he brings is the same we feel about those pitchers vying for the fifth-starter spot.
Joe Ross seems to have the leg up in the competition, even after opting out of the 2020 season. After not pitching for over a year, who knows what he brings to the table. Both Erick Fedde and Austin Voth were given an extended look in 2020, and neither did much with the opportunity. One would think it’s either time to move on from them, or permanently move them to the bullpen.
Rogelio Armenteros was selected off waivers this offseason and Jefry Rodriguez was signed to a minor league contract. Jackson Rutledge and Cade Cavalli are two of the young arms who Martinez wants to take a look at as well. Word is Rodriguez is being transitioned to a bullpen role.
General manager Mike Rizzo needs to keep his eyes on the waiver wire as well as keeping the contacts of other GMs near him. Making a move towards the end of spring will make the team more competitive entering the regular season.
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The battle for the fifth starter job needs to go down to the wire, with the best man prevailing, regardless of service time, options remaining, or guaranteed money tied to. With the National League East being the most competitive division out there, the Nationals can’t afford a give-away game every fifth day.