Washington Nationals and Trevor Rosenthal a match made in heaven

On Wednesday, it was reported that the Washington Nationals and Trevor Rosenthal inked a deal. It is an under-the-radar move, but could pay huge dividends.

It seems like the Washington Nationals‘ top priority each winter is to sign as many Scott Boras clients as possible. A majority of the team, especially its key players, are represented by Boras Corporation, which has been a theme over the last several years.

This winter, Nats fans have their eyes on one of Boras’ most talented clients, Bryce Harper. However, the Nats’ first agreement with a Boras client of the offseason did not include Harper. Instead, it was the signing of Trevor Rosenthal.

Rosenthal, a 28-year-old reliever, is leaving the only organization he has ever known, the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent six seasons in the Redbirds’ bullpen, including a four-year stint as their closer.

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After pitching to a 2.99 ERA and racking up 121 saves over six years in St. Louis, Rosenthal missed the entire 2018 season recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Now 14 months removed from the operation, Rosenthal figures to play a key role in the Nats’ 2019 bullpen.

The Nats recently exercised Sean Doolittle‘s club option for 2019, so there is not a vacancy at closer, but the relief corps remained thin. Greg Holland and Kelvin Herrera ended the season setting up for Doolittle, but both relievers are currently free agents. With Holland and Herrera out of the picture, Rosenthal will presumably take over setup duties.

When healthy, Rosenthal is among the most dominant relievers in the game. His 14.35 K/9 in 2017 ranked third-highest among National League relievers, behind only Corey Knebel and Kenley Jansen. If Rosenthal is indeed healthy, the Nats have bought low on an outstanding late-inning reliever.

Pitchers are typically able to return to a similar level of performance after undergoing Tommy John Surgery, but it is not a guarantee. Fortunately for the Nats, it appears that Rosenthal is the same pitcher he was prior to the operation.

Rosenthal recently held a showcase for teams, in which his fastball reached triple-digits and his secondary pitches sat in the upper-eighties. If he is able to maintain this over the course of the season, he should be able to pick up right where he left off.

Considering Rosenthal has not pitched in a year and is not guaranteed to return to form, a creative contract was required. Although the Nats have not officially confirmed the deal, it is reported to be a one-year deal with $7 million guaranteed and an additional $7 million in incentives. If both parties are happy, there is also a mutual option for 2020 with a similar structure. In simpler terms, Rosenthal is guaranteed $7 million in 2019, but could make up to $28 million over the next two years.

The Nats and Rosenthal are a perfect match due to the organization’s pristine track record with Tommy John recipients and current personnel.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Doolittle will retain the closer’s role in 2019. However, he has a bit of an injury history and spent a signifiant chunk of the 2018 season on the disabled list. If Doolittle is unable to pitch, due to overuse or an injury, Rosenthal is more than capable of closing games.

Rosenthal could also serve as a stopper in high-leverage games, such as the postseason, similar to how Knebel was deployed in Milwaukee this October. In the postseason, when all hands are on deck, late-inning relievers are frequently used in high-leverage situations in the middle innings. The Nats obviously need to return to the postseason first, but Rosenthal could thrive in this role.

Finally, by signing with the Nats, Rosenthal is reunited with his former pitching coach, Derek Lilliquist. Rosenthal dominated under Lilliquist’s tutelage in St. Louis, and the Nats hope the two can continue to work well together.

The Washington Nationals’ relief corps struggled in 2018, which was partially responsible for their disappointing season. If the team is going to return to contention in 2019, they need more from the bullpen. Signing Trevor Rosenthal is a step in the right direction.