MLB Trade Retrospective: Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals
The Nationals’ Off-Field Problems Post-Trade
As the losses piled up, the Nationals’ ship started to crack. After a loss to the Mets, Bryce Harper said of the fans, “They left in the seventh, so that was pretty brutal.” The next day, the Nationals blew a six-run lead to the Mets in epic fashion. Leading 7-2 in the top of the seventh, Drew Storen was brought in with the bases loaded. He immediately gave up a three-run double to Yoenis Cespedes, then walked Daniel Murphy. A wild pitch moved them both up a base and David Wright walked to load the bases. Storen’s third walk of the innings, this one to Lucas Duda, allowed the tying run to score.
The Nationals still had a chance heading into the ninth inning. Down by a run, Jayson Werth singled, bringing Anthony Rendon to the plate with Bryce Harper, in the midst of a tremendous season, on deck. On a 3-1 count, Rendon sacrificed Werth to second. Harper then walked and Yunel Escobar hit into a double play to end the game. The media roasted Nationals manager Matt Williams for keeping the bunt sign on with a 3-1 count to Rendon. He was booed at his post-game press conference.
The next day, Storen blew it again. Stephen Strasburg led 2-1 going into the top of the eighth, but allowed a solo home run to Kelly Johnson to tie the game. Strasburg then struck out Kirk Nieuwenhuis, but allowed a single to Curtis Granderson. In comes Drew Storen, with Yoenis Cespedes at the dish. On a 1-0 count, Cespedes took Storen deep and the Mets had a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish. After the game, Storen broke his right thumb while slamming the lock box in his locker. His season was done.
On September 18, manager Williams went to the mound mid-inning to talk to Scherzer and Scherzer yelled at him, insisting on staying in the game. When he got out of the inning, Scherzer stared daggers at Williams in the dugout. It was another sign of tempers flaring on a team that was scrambling to figure out what was happening.
A week later, Papelbon intentionally threw at Manny Machado and was fined and suspended for three games. He appealed the punishment and remained with the team. The Nationals were eliminated from playoff contention the next day, despite all of their pre-season hype.
The straw that broke the camel’s back came on September 27. Bryce Harper, the NL MVP, didn’t run out a pop fly to left and Papelbon got on him as he came back to the dugout. The conversation got heated and Papelbon lunged at Harper, grabbing him by the neck and shoving him against the dugout wall. It was ugly. Papelbon would be suspended by the team for his attack.
That’s how the regular season ended for the Nationals last year. Despite all the hype, and a one game lead in late July, they finished out of the playoffs and were the embarrassment of baseball when the closer they had traded for attacked their best player.
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