5 offseason moves to help the Nationals repeat as champions

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: The Washington Nationals pose for a team photo as they celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros with a score of 6 to 2. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 15: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 15, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

4. Trade for Raisel Iglesias

As has been a running (and troubling) trend for their entire existence, the Nationals had one of the worst bullpens in the league this year. Call it the Curse of Drew Storen, who imploded after the team traded for hothead Jonathan Papelbon in 2015. Storen and Papelbon were both awful after the trade and the team’s bullpen has been in disarray ever since. Washington relievers had a 5.68 ERA in 2019, lost 33 games and allowed over 1.5 home runs per nine.

This may have been the worst iteration of the Nats awful bullpens. No moves the front office made throughout the year really seemed to help, as the relievers had a 6.08 ERA in the first half before pulling it together slightly for a 5.24 mark in the second half. The writing was on the wall after Trevor Rosenthal allowed four hits, four walks, a hit batter and seven runs in four games before getting his first out of the season.

The Nationals have guaranteed over half a billion dollars to their starting rotation but have been forced to pick through the scrap heap for their bullpen, seemingly rotating in a new cast of arms every winter. There’s no other way to describe signing 42-year-old Fernando Rodney after he allowed 15 runs in 14.1 innings with the Oakland A’s before being released.

Washington is going to have to get serious about addressing their bullpen concerns this winter. They have to do more than keep plowing money into building a formidable starting rotation, as was made clear in the Wild Card Game and NLDS. Exercising Sean Doolittle’s $6.5-million option for 2020 is a no-brainer, as is trying to re-sign Daniel Hudson.

It’s going to take a little more than just running the same bullpen back in 2020, however. The Nationals need to think outside the box and target Cincinnati Reds closer Raisel Iglesias, who is in the final year of his contract. The 29-year-old had a rough season in 2019, but still struck out 12.0 per nine and allowed only two runs over his final 10.2 innings of the season. Cincinnati has their eye on winning next year, but that’s a longshot. The Reds need to cash Iglesias in as a trade chip, and the Nats make sense as a partner.

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