Washington Nationals: Options Remain to Fill Closer Role
By Tim Haberin
It might seem like the Washington Nationals struck out in their search for next season’s closer, but they still have some worthwhile options to consider, from both inside and outside the organization.
It’s difficult to make any definitive statements concerning success or failure during the offseason, as teams will often surprise you one way or another once the regular season gets underway. However, it’s not unfair to say that the Washington Nationals needed to address their closer situation this winter, and so far they haven’t done so.
The Nats acquired Mark Melancon from the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to last season’s trade deadline, and he performed admirably in the nation’s capital. He posted a 1.82 ERA and 0.81 WHIP over 29.2 innings for Washington, converting 17 of 18 save opportunities. The success continued into the postseason, where Melancon tossed 4.1 scoreless frames and notched a save against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
The Nationals were certainly interested in re-signing Melancon, but he jetted off to San Francisco to sign a then-record-breaking four-year, $62 million deal with the Giants. Washington was frequently linked to the other top-tier free agent closers as well, but Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen signed with the New York Yankees and Dodgers, respectively. They have even watched lesser targets like Brad Ziegler and Greg Holland go elsewhere, leaving the Nats with seemingly few options.
While Washington’s outlook at closer isn’t exactly ideal at the moment, the club does still have some legitimate courses of action on the table, whether internally or via free agency or trade. With a strong lineup and rotation, the Nationals have to like their chances in the NL East, but in order to keep rivals like the New York Mets at bay, having a dependable closer to lock down the ninth inning would be a crucial asset.
Here are a few possibilities for the Nats to consider.
Next: Staying In-House