Cade Cavalli was two weeks away from starting the 2023 season in the Nationals rotation.After making his major debut and dealing with a shoulder injury last summer), necessitating Tommy John surgery when he suffered a grade 3 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, costing him all of his next campaign.
So… Washington’s plans for an emerging starting rotation featuring three young arms planning to build the future are pending.
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Mackenzie Gore, 24, and Josiah Gray, 25, are expected to start for the club this season as long as they are both healthy, with manager Davey Martinez confirming Trevor in his first comments after Cavalli’s injury. As noted with Williams (signed earlier this winter), and Patrick Corbin (Man recovering from three seasons of mound failure), they think they can fill the rotation with in-house options first.
“If Cade can’t do that, Chad Cool will probably get a chance to start,” said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. Words by Mark Zuckerman of MASNbefore the official diagnosis announcement of Cavalli’s elbow.
A 30-year-old, six-year veteran, Cool posted a 5.72 ERA, 5.26 FIP, 58 walks, 110 Ks and a .284/.355/.500 line in 27 starts and 137 innings pitched.Colorado Rockies last season, age 64 1⁄3 Their Coors Field (His ERA was 6.32, 5.04 to 72. 2⁄3 Last season’s IP Onroad).
Cool signed a minor league contract with the Nationals in February.
“His curveball is better now because he’s not in Colorado,” Martinez said (via MASN). “It’s going to help him. He’s really working on the changeup. He’s thrown some really good stuff. And he’s got a mix that can throw two seamers and four seamers.” He uses both and so far it’s been pretty effective.”
As Skipper told reporters, even with the loss of Cavalli during the season, the Nationals think they’re doing enough pitching internally to move forward.
“Yeah, not for now,” Martinez said when asked if he would pursue alternatives. ”
“We love the depth we have here, but we’re not against looking outside the organization,” said GM Mike Rizzo. Quoted again by Mark Zuckerman of MASNleft open the possibility of adding depth when asked about their Imhouse options at a Cavalli News press conference.
“Of course, if something makes sense for us, we definitely look outside and inside,” Rizzo added.
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Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images
However, the club has scouted Cool over the last few years and liked it enough to pick up a veteran flyer this season.
“When I watched him pitch before in Pittsburgh and Denver, I liked the way he competed,” Rizzo explained.
“He’s a sinker/slider/changeup guy. His changeup stacks up nicely analytically. And we brought him in to compete for one of those jobs.”
As Rizzo said, in addition to Kuhl, they clearly have other options within the organization they can rely on in the aftermath of a disappointing development with top prospects in the system. Joan Adon’s, Cory Abbott’s, Jake. Irvin’s and Cole Henry’s mentioned by the MASN reporter.
“Our closet is certainly full of possibilities,” said Rizzo.
