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MLB Rumors: 5 players the Nationals should trade for

By Joshua Sadlock

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Ken Giles #51 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park on May 14, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Ken Giles #51 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park on May 14, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Alex Colome #48 of the Chicago White Sox pitches in the 9th inning for a save against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 18, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox defeated the Cubs 3-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Alex Colome #48 of the Chicago White Sox pitches in the 9th inning for a save against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 18, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox defeated the Cubs 3-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

4. Alex Colome

Reliever Alex Colome was a rising star while closing for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 and 2017. The right-hander saved 84 games across the two seasons, made an All-Star team in 2016 while striking out 11.3 per-nine and led MLB with 47 saves in 2017. The 30-year-old was always a bit of a roller coaster even when it was going well, and he lost his job with the Rays last season and was eventually dealt to the Seattle Mariners.

Colome did figure things out after last season’s trade, appearing in 47 games with the Mariners and posting a 2.53 ERA. Seattle flipped him again last winter, and he has pitched well for the Chicago White Sox. Colome has been given another chance to close, and he has handled the job well. In 33 appearances this season, he has a 2.16 ERA and has saved 18 games. He has held opponents to a .109/.182/.273 line and has a 0.66 WHIP with only one blown save.

The right-hander’s best pitch is his cutter, and he has thrown it nearly two-thirds of the time this season. Opponents are hitting a pitiful .093 against the pitch. Even during his rocky 2018, Colome’s cutter still registered as one of the best offerings in the league. It’s not as much of a swing-and-miss pitch as it was during his best season, but is still very difficult to square up.

Adding Colome to handle the eighth inning would instantly stabilize the Nationals bullpen. He is arbitration-eligible after this season for the final time before free agency, but is already earning $7.3 million. That’s a lot for a reliever, which could tamp down interest and allow the Nationals to position themselves for a trade.

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