Nationals Get: Sean Doolittle (1-0, 3.38 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 3 SV, 31/2 K/BB, Age 30)
Ryan Madson (2-4, 2.06 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 1 SV, 39/6 K/BB, Age 36)
A's Get: Blake Treinen (0-2, 5.73 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 3 SV, 32/13 K/BB, Age 29)
Sheldon Neuse (9 HR, 51 RBI, .291 AVG, 12 SB, 133 wRC+ at Class A, Age 22)
Jesus Luzardo (1-0, 1.32 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 15/0 K/BB at GCL, Age 19)
The Nationals and A's have made numerous trades in recent years, and less than a year after the Marc Rzepczynski for Max Schrock deal, the A's sent the Nationals two more relievers. Sean Doolittle has spent his entire six year career in Oakland, battling injuries but performing like a back-end reliever when healthy. Though the 3.38 ERA might not show it, he's been straight up dominant this year, striking out 31 batters while walking just two in 21.1 innings, leading to a much better 2.35 FIP. He had a rough patch from June 30th to July 5th, allowing five runs in 3.2 innings over four appearances, but he seems to have righted the ship, retiring nine straight batters in his three subsequent outings. He seems like the favorite to become the Nationals new "closer," if they decide to continue with that archaic bullpen model and lock one reliever into one inning. As an extra plus, he's under contract through 2020 for under $20 million total. For his career, Doolittle is 13-13 with a 3.09 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP, striking out 300 batters in 253 innings. Ryan Madson is also a veteran reliever, having pitched for the Phillies from 2003-2011, the Royals in 2015, and the A's since 2016, sandwiched around a lengthy Tommy John surgery recovery from 2012-2014. He has been better than ever in 2017, his age 36 season, putting up a 2.06 ERA, a 2.43 FIP, a 0.79 WHIP, and a 39/6 strikeout to walk ratio in 39.1 innings. He has been especially lights-out recently, allowing just one run on two hits, no walks, and a hit batsmen over his past nine appearances, coming out to a 0.90 ERA, a 0.20 WHIP, and eleven strikeouts in ten innings. He's under contract for this year and next, and he'll be paid just over $10 million for that year and a half. For his career, Madson is 56-43 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, striking out 693 batters in 797.1 innings.
Blake Treinen, who was originally drafted by the A's out of South Dakota State in 2011, is the only major leaguer going back to Oakland. He came to the Nationals in the Michael Morse trade and quickly made his mark, putting up a 2.49 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP over 15 games (seven starts) as a rookie in 2014. After a decent 2015, he seemed to put it all together in 2016, putting up a 2.28 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over 73 appearances, striking out 63 batters in 67 innings and showcasing a nasty two-seamer/slider combination. However, he took a big step back this year, struggling to a 5.73 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP over 37 appearances, striking out 32 and walking 13 in 37.2 innings. His 3.75 FIP suggests he's due for some regression, but the Nationals need results now and Treinen wasn't providing them. He still has three years of arbitration ahead of him, meaning he'll be under team control through 2020, like Doolittle. For his career, Treinen is 8-11 with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP, striking out 190 in 223 innings. Sheldon Neuse was the Nationals' second round pick out of Oklahoma in 2016, and after a sluggish start to his pro career last year (.230/.305/.341), he broke out this year with Class A Hagerstown, slashing .291/.349/.469 with nine home runs over 77 games, showcasing the upside of a starting third baseman in the majors. He's still a long way off, and at 22, he's not old by prospect standards but he's not young either. He adds to the impressive infield depth Oakland is stockpiling in its system, joining Matt Chapman, Renato Nunez, Franklin Barreto, Richie Martin, Yairo Munoz, Joey Wendle, and former Nationals prospect Max Schrock. Jesus Luzardo was the Nationals' third round pick in 2016, but he could have gone higher had he not gone down with Tommy John surgery before the draft. Finally healthy, the 19 year old made his pro debut on June 28th, and through three starts so far, he's been excellent, going 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP, striking out 15 and walking nobody in 13.2 innings for the GCL Nationals. Focusing merely on pounding the strike zone for now, he's been fairly hittable, allowing 14 hits in those 13.2 innings for a .259 opponents' batting average, but given the overall results, you'll take it every time for a teenager working his way back from surgery. It will be a few years before he's ready for the majors, but he could be a mid-rotation starter around the year 2020.
No comments:
Post a Comment