In 2015, the Washington Nationals’ bullpen was massively flawed, loaded with failed starters and underperforming former prospects. The bullpen struggles were arguably the biggest reason the team stumbled to an 83-win season. But while most of baseball followed the Kansas City model with splashy moves this offseason, the Nats decided to use under-the-radar pick-ups to stockpile their pen.
The first bullpen move the Nats made was not for a reliever, but for new manager Dusty Baker. When it came to dealing with the bullpen in late game situations, former skipper Matt Williams was practically clueless. He was stuck in his outdated ways of saving his best relievers for the eighth and ninth innings, even if the game was on the line in the sixth or seventh. The Nats always seemed to lose games with bullets still left in the chamber, like when Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard watched the overmatched Aaron Barrett lose the 2014 NLDS on a wild pitch. The 2015 bullpen was even worse; the Nationals finished 26th in ERA in late and close games, according to MLB.com.
This will not happen with Dusty Baker. Since 1999, when MLB.com first began tracking ERA in late and close games, Baker has been the manager of three teams over 14 different seasons. In eleven of those seasons, Baker’s teams finished in the top seven in baseball for ERA in late and close games. Time and time again, he has shown the ability to expertly handle bullpens.
The Nats also brought in several new faces to improve the talent level in relief. Technically, one of those faces has resided in DC since the July trade deadline, and has somehow already become public enemy number one. But with a new start (and a blessing from Bryce Harper), closer Jonathan Papelbon remains with the Nats, and will be a critical piece in the back end of the bullpen. Papelbon has consistently been an elite closer, and even as his strikeouts dip (his K/9 rate has declined every year since 2011), he still gets big outs and prevents runs (2.13 ERA in 2015).
Papelbon also has the necessary postseason chops (in which the Nats are sorely lacking), putting up a 0.81 ERA in 27 innings across four different playoff stints with Boston. And while he can be difficult in the locker room at times, a veteran manager such as Baker should be able to use Pap’s crazy for good. After all, Red Sox manager Terry Francona was able to control Papelbon, and it resulted in a World Series. In a winning environment, Papelbon is immensely valuable.
After getting Papelbon at the deadline, GM Mike Rizzo also brought in several other new relievers this offseason. By signing RHP Shawn Kelley to a three year, $15 million deal, Dusty Baker now has an elite power arm at his disposal. While Kelley did not break out until this past season in San Diego, pitching to the tune of 2.45 ERA and an equally good 2.57 FIP, he has always been able to blow the ball by hitters (he has posted at least an 11.0 K/9 each of the last three years). He will be able to squash any jams with his upper-echelon strikeout ability.
Joining Kelley will be fellow newcomers LHP Oliver Perez, RHP Trevor Gott, and RHP Yusmeiro Petit. Perez was filthy against left-handers a year ago, holding them to a measly .517 OPS. Gott posted a 3.02 ERA last season with the Angels, and while he had shaky peripherals, he is a 23-year-old fireballer with a 96 mph fastball, so he will only grow. Petit looks to serve as the longman and occasional spot starter, eating innings while preventing runs at a solid clip.
By combining these new arms with holdover southpaw Felipe Rivero, Rizzo and the Nats seem to have built a much-improved pen. Baker will be able to play matchups in front of Papelbon, using Rivero and Perez to take down any and all lefties, while Kelley and Gott throw heat from the right side. Petit will be incredibly useful as the long man, and whoever wins the final bullpen spot will not be overexposed as often as in 2015.
The Nats as a whole had plenty of issues last season. But there are few things in baseball more demoralizing than blowing a late lead. Washington did this far too often, and it really took the wind out of the players’ sails. Even if they built an early lead, they would always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. The talent level and decision-making has clearly improved in the bullpen, which will have a carry-over effect to the rest of the roster. Confidence is infectious, and success in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings will only help the rest of the Nats’ roster in innings one through six.