Washington Nationals decline options on Nate McLouth, Casey Janssen

The Washington Nationals announced on Monday that they’ve declined options on outfielder Nate McLouth and reliever Casey Janssen, who had a mutual option.

Both decisions were fairly easy for the Nationals, who save $11.25-million for 2016 in the process. McLouth and Janssen will receive $750k and $1.5-million, respectively, instead of their $6.5-million and $7-million 2016 salaries.

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McLouth missed the entire 2015 season recovering from a torn shoulder labrum in late 2014. He also spent 2014 in D.C., though he hit just .173 in 139 at-bats for the Nationals as a bench outfielder. While Washington could have interest in bringing the former All-Star back as potential outfield depth, it would have to come at a fraction of the $6.5-million he was slated to make on his 2016 option. With the 2014 struggles and shoulder injury, McLouth could even be in line for a minor-league deal.

Janssen will leave Washington after not panning out the way the Nationals had hoped. It appeared that the former Blue Jays closer could serve as a viable replacement for Tyler Clippard, though he pitched to a 4.95 ERA in 40.0 innings, picking up five losses. Janssen’s advanced metrics suggest he pitched better than stats like ERA, win-loss totals and more face-value stats would show, but even those suggest he wasn’t worth nearly the $5-million he was paid in 2015.

Janssen will be just a small part of a mass bullpen exodus for the Nationals that also includes Matt Thornton, Doug Fister, and potentially Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon. Washington is slated to have a completely overhauled bullpen in 2016, and will need much more production from their relief core next season if they want to return to competing in the National League East.

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