Assessing the Nationals' in-house candidates to close (updated)

Assessing the Nationals' in-house candidates to close (updated)
We're less than a month from the date pitchers and catchers report to spring training at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and the Nationals' closer picture is no clearer than it was during the Winter Meetings, when incumbent Mark Melancon signed a four-year, $62 million contract with the Giants. Since the season ended, with speculation that Melancon would bolt for greener pastures (emphasis on "green"), both manager Dusty Baker and general manager Mike Rizzo have trumpeted the in-house...

Could Nats stand pat and field competitive 25-man roster?

Could Nats stand pat and field competitive 25-man roster?
It has now been 41 days since the Nationals last added or subtracted a player from their 40-man roster. (It was the Danny Espinosa trade to the Angels, for those wondering.) That's an awfully prolonged period of radio silence for any major league club, but the Nats aren't alone in this regard. It's been an unusually slow-developing offseason across baseball, with a bunch of prominent free agents still unemployed even though we're closing in on three weeks til pitchers and catchers report...

No. 6 Nats prospect: Koda Glover

No. 6 Nats prospect: Koda Glover
Right-hander Koda Glover made one of the more astonishing moves in one season when he jumped from high Single-A Potomac to the Nationals in a matter of four months last summer. Glover, 23, out of Oklahoma State, pitched for Potomac, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse from April to August. During that span, Glover went 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 40 games, striking out 66 and walking only 14. He was promoted to D.C. in July and made two appearances, on July 20 and 21. He arrived back again...

Koda Glover battling back from torn labrum in hip

Koda Glover battling back from torn labrum in hip
When hard-throwing Koda Glover burst onto the scene last summer, his unshakable demeanor and plus stuff immediately had people talking about him as a future Nationals closer. Never mind that he went from Single-A to the majors in less than a full season. Glover had a 2.63 ERA through his first 12 relief appearances before he hit a significant bump in the road. The eighth-round selection in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft struggled mightily in September, posting a 7.20 ERA in his final 10...

Nats' lack of experienced closer right now doesn't faze Baker

Nats' lack of experienced closer right now doesn't faze Baker
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Fans and media may be wondering who will close for the Nationals in 2017. So is manager Dusty Baker, though he didn't sound too concerned Tuesday during his media session at the Winter Meetings. Speaking in a ballroom at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Baker said he was disappointed that the Nationals weren't able to re-sign incumbent Mark Melancon, didn't think the Nats had been in touch with free agent Aroldis Chapman because he's asking for too...

Looking at the ninth-inning market beyond the big-name free agents

Looking at the ninth-inning market beyond the big-name free agents
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Mark Melancon is gone, lured to San Francisco by a four-year, $62 million free agent deal. He was a great fit in the Nationals clubhouse and his 147 saves over the past four years and significant postseason experience will help the Giants solve the bullpen problems that derailed their second half of 2016. It's no surprise that Melancon was the first of the three top free agent closers to come off the board. He won't be the most expensive - though his $62 million...

Rizzo reacts to Melancon's departure, closer market and Glover's future

Rizzo reacts to Melancon's departure, closer market and Glover's future
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The news arrived Monday afternoon at the Winter Meetings that former Nationals closer Mark Melancon had agreed to terms with the San Francisco Giants. Instead of focusing on the possibility of a new leadoff center fielder and a starting pitcher, the Nationals now must also address the ninth-inning role again for 2017. Melancon agreed to a four-year deal worth $62 million, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. Specifics of the deal were tweeted out by Alex Pavolic of CSN Bay...

How prominent a role could Glover have in 2017 bullpen?

How prominent a role could Glover have in 2017 bullpen?
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Koda Glover, who surprisingly emerged from the minors as a power-armed reliever. PLAYER REVIEW: KODA GLOVER Age on opening day 2017: 23 How acquired: Eighth-round pick, 2015 draft MLB service time: 51 days 2016 salary: $507,500 Contract status: Under team control in 2017, arbitration-eligible in 2020, free agent in 2023 2016 stats: 2-0, 5.03 ERA, 19 G, 0 SV, 2 BS,...

How A.J. Cole fought through without his best stuff

How A.J. Cole fought through without his best stuff
MIAMI - Nationals right-hander A.J. Cole allowed only two runs in his start Monday, but had to labor to get those 12 outs. Cole had to throw 79 pitches in just four innings and spoke after taking a no-decision in the 4-3 loss to Miami. "I didn't have my best stuff tonight," Cole said. "But I fought to keep my team in the game. I went out there and still tried every inning to get my stuff where I wanted it to. I battled through it. "It didn't really differ at all. Though I went out there...

Baker trying out options in eighth inning (Nationals lose 6-2)

Baker trying out options in eighth inning (Nationals lose 6-2)
ATLANTA - The Nationals solved their ninth-inning problem when they acquired Mark Melancon at the trade deadline. But as the regular season reaches its final two weeks, they're still trying to figure out who's going to get through the eighth inning to get the ball to their new closer. Shawn Kelley held a firm grasp on the primary setup role through most of the season, but manager Dusty Baker has tried out some new arms in the last few weeks, with mixed results. Rookie Koda Glover struggled in...

Koda Glover on his desire to face big hitters in key moments

Koda Glover on his desire to face big hitters in key moments
Fans have been excited to see right-hander Koda Glover make a meteoric rise to the big leagues this season. With Glover, they have had a chance to see the focus the youngster brings to his job - that closer mentality and killer instinct - used to get each hitter he faces out. Glover started this season for high Single-A Potomac and pitched for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse before joining the Nationals. Just last season he pitched for NCAA Division I Oklahoma State, got drafted in...

Baker and Maddux want to make sure Glover is OK after two rough outings

Baker and Maddux want to make sure Glover is OK after two rough outings
Right-hander Koda Glover has pitched in the eighth inning in his last two outings. Each time, he allowed a homer. On Friday, Glover surrendered a three-run shot to Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp. Then Sunday, it was a solo shot on his first pitch to Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis. After allowing only one run in six of his previous seven outings, Glover allowed four runs in back-to-back appearances. This was unchartered territory for Glover. Nationals manager Dusty Baker felt Glover was taking...

Turner and Murphy get offense rolling (Nats win 3-2)

Turner and Murphy get offense rolling (Nats win 3-2)
The Nationals went after Phillies southpaw Adam Morgan in the first inning. Trea Turner singled to lead off the frame. With one out, Daniel Murphy doubled down the right field line. Turner scored all the way from first base and the Nationals lead 1-0 after one inning. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez skated out of trouble in each of the first two frames. He allowed a walk in the first. In the second, the Phillies had two men on with no one out after a Danny Espinosa fielding error and an A.J. Ellis...

Baker curious to see how Glover responds to rough outing

Baker curious to see how Glover responds to rough outing
Dusty Baker has suggested for several weeks he would like to see how Koda Glover handles a late-inning situation. On more than one occasion, Baker has mentioned he hopes Glover does for the 2016 Nationals what Francisco Rodriguez did for the 2002 Angels: hold the setup role for a World Series champion only a month after making his major league debut. So when Friday night's game against the Phillies presented an ideal opportunity for it, Baker didn't hesitate to use Glover in a big spot: up...

Turner's pair of homers give Nationals dramatic 5-4 victory

Turner's pair of homers give Nationals dramatic 5-4 victory
Trea Turner was supposed to inject speed and energy to the top of the Nationals lineup. Who knew he'd inject a whole lot of power as well? Turner blasted two home runs in the game's final three innings tonight, including a walk-off homer to straightaway center field that gave the Nationals a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Phillies and added another chapter to the rookie's sterling season. Turner, who hit a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the seventh, needed to work...

Rookies shine brightest for Nationals in key win over Mets

Rookies shine brightest for Nationals in key win over Mets
NEW YORK - The 2016 Nationals are built to win, first and foremost, with experienced stars. Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Daniel Murphy, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Zimmerman are supposed to lead the way and (in the best-case scenario) lead this franchise to the promised land come October. But Mike Rizzo is, at his core, a development guy. And so the general manager has attempted to infuse his veteran-laded roster with a handful of young players that can inject life and energy to the...

Nats take opener from Mets 4-1, reduce magic number to 18

Nats take opener from Mets 4-1, reduce magic number to 18
NEW YORK - While fellow prospects Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez leapfrogged him on the organizational depth chart and got the first opportunities to pitch for the Nationals this summer, A.J. Cole hung around and waited for his turn. Who would have guessed "Option C" would prove more reliable at this point? Cole turned in another impressive performance tonight, holding the Mets to one run and three hits over six innings, putting himself in position to earn his first career win. The...

Late-summer acquisitions have boosted bullpen

Late-summer acquisitions have boosted bullpen
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals entered late July with a bullpen that, while successful in the big picture, featured some significant question marks. Did they need a new closer? Did they need more reliable left-handed help? Did they need a burst of energy from another young arm? One month later, as the calendar now shifts from August to September, the Nationals bullpen has been tweaked. General manager Mike Rizzo addressed all three of those issues, and the results (so far) have been...

Giolito didn't see the improvement he wanted in tough loss

Giolito didn't see the improvement he wanted in tough loss
Right-hander Lucas Giolito was hoping to hit the ground running as he made his return to the big leagues after some solid performances at Triple-A Syracuse. But the Rockies' Nolan Arenado and David Dahl had other ideas. Arenado smacked a two-run shot and Dahl followed with a solo homer, highlighting a three-run third inning as Colorado defeated the Nationals 5-3. Giolito allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts, having to throw 100 pitches in five innings in his first...

Game 125 lineups: Nats at Orioles

Game 125 lineups: Nats at Orioles
BALTIMORE - It's another beautiful day here at Camden Yards, a far cry from the heat and humidity everyone has been dealing with for weeks. The Nationals and Orioles return for the second of their four head-to-head games this week, the Nats needing a win tonight to even up the series after last night's 4-3 loss. Reynaldo Lopez gets the start, and if the rookie pitches anything like he did his last two times out, the Nationals will like their chances. Those starts, of course, both came against...