Washington Nationals news & notes: 2023 bullpen talk

When asked this spring about his closer role in the bullpen and whether Nationals reliever Kyle Finnigan, who saved 11 total games for Washington in 2022, was lined up to fill it, Knotts’ manager Davey Martinez said he likes having rights. Whatever role he ends up playing in his bullpen backend.

“Let’s see how spring goes,” Skipper said. “Finnegan was our player last year and I love him on the back end of the bullpen.

“But we might need him in the eighth inning, as we used to do sometimes.

He told reporters that he and Finnegan had discussed how they intended to use him this season earlier this spring.

“I’ve already spoken to him and told him, ‘Hey, look, there will be a day when you close. There will be a day when eight times will feel like I need you the most.’ Martinez, as quoted by MASN’s Bobby Blanco, said:“His response was, ‘I’m ready whenever you need me.’ I love that about him.”

Finnegan’s name came up as last year’s trade deadline approached, but the club ultimately retained right-handedness. .

“There was a lot of interest,” Finnegan, Carl Edwards Jr. and others said Rizzo. You can come back and control him for years. So it’s always a decision process you make. ”

Finnegan posted a 3.51 ERA, a 3.15 FIP, nine walks, 26 strikeouts and a .213/.282/.340 line in 24 games and 25 2/3 innings after the deadline last summer, and finished in seven games with eight chances. saved. In the final two months of the season, he had a 3.51 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 22 walks, 70 K’s, .221/.284/. 1 year is over. He made 11 saves in a total of 15 chances for the year.

Martinez said there were several other options, if not Finnegan, that had played the role before and would play it again if needed.

Before the Grapefruit League kicked off, Martinez explained:

“Like we saw last year, we have some guys who could potentially pitch in the 8th and 9th innings. [Alex] Colomé has saved a lot of games, but he threw the ball today and he threw it very well. But like I said, now it’s all about keeping them healthy and getting their jobs. And then we’ll start the game, get them into the game, and see how they do. ”

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Who else could pitch in 8th or 9th if needed?

“We got [Hunter] Herbie,” Martinez said. [Carl Edwards, Jr.]We know Erasmo [Ramìrez] I can, but to me he’s a middle innings guy.we got [Sean] We used him in another role last year, but we know how we can use him this year. But we have a lot of talented players who help us out behind the bullpen. ”

Martinez also mentioned Mason Thompson.

“I think Mason is a player for us who can pitch anywhere in the sixth or seven, but he will also give us length like he did last year,” Martinez said. I don’t want him to think I’m just an innings guy. I said he might have to take four or five outs for us, so we’re going to get him ready for that.”

Doolittle has slowed his pace this spring after attending a hot camp after undergoing surgery to repair a UCL in his left elbow last summer and doesn’t look ready for the season opener. MASN’s Mark Zuckerman and Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty I wrote about the annual hunt for lefties in the bullpen last week and mentioned that after the first cut of spring, Doolittle, Anthony Vanda, Matt Cronin and Jose Ferrer are the remaining lefties at camp.

Will the club have a southpaw in the pen at the start of the season?

“Here, it wasn’t that big of a priority,” Martinez said. WaPost’s Dougherty quotes.

“But it’s nice… Look, we had Doolittle last year. His role changed, but he was huge. I hope someone stepped up this year. Doolittle ready.” If he can, he can be that guy again.

“I really want to be left-handed. In a perfect world, two left-handers would be great. But we’ll see.

Finnegan, Harvey, Edwards, Jr., and Thaddeus Ward (A 2022-23 Rule 5 pick, should remain on the Nationals’ big league roster for the season or be returned to the Boston Red Sox.), and if there are no setbacks or hiccups this spring, it seems likely to make a bullpen, a WaPost writer suggested. It will be resolved between now and the end of spring training.

A lesser-known arm in the above combination, Ward was the top overall pick in this winter’s Rule 5 Draft. Remain in all-season majors (After all, that’s why they drafted him).

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“Here’s the guy. He’s a strike-thrower, and he’s got a really good slider and a good two-seamer, so we liked him,” the manager said. wants him to hit the strike zone, we talked to him about using his changeup a bit more, but he needs to be in the strike zone, that’s him. We’re looking for throws, early outs, and weak touches, so let’s see how he fares.”

Martinez said there is pressure on pitchers to make the cut and impress enough to open the season at the pen.

“‘We drafted you, didn’t we?'” he said of his message to pitchers.

“‘There is an opportunity to come here,’ but we drafted him because we wanted him. So relax and enjoy, but yours is good, yours will be regenerated and you will get better.

Most recently, Martinez said Ward was a potential longman in the bullpen and could be a spot starter if needed this year (it inevitably).

“I talked to him about being a long man out of the bullpen.” Martinez, as quoted by MASN’s Bobby Blanco, said:.

“He can do it, so we have to train him for that. I like the way he throws the ball, he throws it really well. He’s the guy I knew when I was a kid and he’s a striker pitcher.We liked him.He’s got a really good slider.His changeup is actually [Pitching Coach Jim] Hickey, his changeup is really, really good. So we’re thrilled he did so well. ”