MLB: Assessing the NL East GMs at the midway point

Washington Nationals, Mike Rizzo, +1.8 games

Rizzo has a solid track record improving the Nationals. He’s in his 12th season running the team, and in eight of the first 11 his transactions were a net aid to the Nats averaging nearly five games per season. His 2019 maneuverings contributed to the club’s World Series title.

In that context, what Rizzo has done with the 2021 team qualifies nice but not earthshaking. Most of that work took place on the free agent market, where Rizzo imported 13 figures over the winter including some big names.

The biggest of those names were pitcher Jon Lester and outfielder Kyle Schwarber, both having arrived from Chicago. Schwarber (+1.3) has gotten a lot of headlines for his power outburst, which has included 25 home runs, 16 of them since mid-June. But Lester (-1.3) has been bad, with a 5.34 ERA in a dozen starts. That puts the net impact of the two Chicago pickups at precisely zero.

To date, the trade that brought Josh Bell (0.0) from Pittsburgh for Will Crowe (-0.9 for the Pirates) and a minor leaguer is another low-impact move. Bell is batting .238 with a disappointing .305 on base average. Net impact on Washington: +0.9 games.

Here are some of Rizzo’s notable moves this season.

•  Signed veteran free agents Jordy Mercer (+0.3), Jonathan Lucroy (0.0) and Alex Avila (-0.3). Net impact: 0.0.
• Signed veteran relievers Brad Hand (0.1) and Luis Avilan (-0.5). Net impact: -0.4.
• Released outfielders Michael A. Taylor (-0.4) and Adam Eaton (-0.9), who subsequently signed with the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox respectively. Net impact on the Nationals: +1.3.