With a hole in the closer role, the Washington Nationals should focus on getting San Diego Padres closer Fernando Rodney.
The Washington Nationals have an opening at closer. The San Diego Padres are about to have a fire sale. Could these two teams headed in opposite directions make a deal?
Even before Jonathan Papelbon went on the disabled list for a right intercostal strain—for us anatomy-challenged, that is in the ribcage—the Nats were quietly checking their options at closer for this fall. Although not awful, his WHIP of 1.338 and 6.9 strikeouts-per-nine was never striking fear in National League batters hearts. For a team cruising in the National League East, this is the position needing an upgrade.
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When Papelbon went down, the search for a closer gained intensity. At the moment, the job is Shawn Kelley’s, but unless you count his four saves with the New York Yankees in 2014, then he has virtually no experience as a closer. With a WHIP of 0.818 and an Adjusted ERA+ of 170, he has the credentials and the ability to audition for the role. Unless required, however, throwing an inexperienced closer into the fire of a postseason is not the best move.
Most of the chatter for Washington has been with the Yankees pair of Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. Chapman is one of the game’s best closers and Miller is a lefty who can lock down hitters. The Nats have the prospects to give New York if the Yankees decide to sell at the trade deadline, but Chapman is a free agent once the season is over and will command big money on the open market despite a history of domestic violence. Miller is signed at a cheap $9 million through 2018, but the conventional wisdom is the winner of this potential sale gets both pitchers.
Another option lies on the west coast in Fernando Rodney. As the Padres are about to launch another rebuilding project, they have a major trade chip with a closer who has yet to surrender an earned run this season. In 25.1 innings, Rodney’s lone run allowed is unearned. With a WHIP of 0.829 and 27 strikeouts on the year, Rodney may be the last piece to Washington’s championship puzzle.
Did we mention he has a $2 million option next year? For seven million less than Miller and considerably cheaper than whatever Papelbon will want—assuming he wants to stay in DC—the 39-year-old Rodney may be the best option for the moment.
Rodney has playoff experience, no one said it is good with a record 1-0 with no saves and an ERA of 4.63 in 12 games. What he has is electric stuff and something to prove on a larger stage. If Washington offered a paid for Papelbon and a pair of mid-level prospects for a $3 million gambe over the next year and a half, that is better than Trea Turner and whatever else the Yankees will ask for.
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If the Padres do not ask for Turner and the Smithsonian for Rodney, in the long run it would be better than renting Chapman for Washington. The trick is convincing San Diego to part with their cheap closer.