Washington Nationals Director of Baseball Operations and GM Mike Rizzo spoke about work manager Davey Martinez and his staff in mid-September 2023, as the regular season drew to a close.and the Nats front office) has assembled a late-inning relief option in recent years, turning some fringe arms into useful back ends of bullpen relievers.
“We developed the back of the bullpen almost from scratch,” Rizzo said.
“What you’re talking about is [Kyle] Finnegan, the way he was acquired” (He signed a major league contract after spending seven seasons in the Oakland Athletics system, pitching only in the minors.), “… and [Hunter] Harvey, the way he was acquired” (Exemptions selected from san francisco giantsHe was acquired after eight injury-plagued seasons. baltimore orioles‘Organization), after that, “[Jordan] Weems, the way he was acquired. ” (signed as a free agent After six years as a pro, first as a catcher and then as a pitcher.).
“These players were developed here at the big league level by our coaches, so we’re proud of that,” Rizzo continued.
While he thought the back end of the bullpen was a strength at the end of the 2023 season, Rizzo spoke during the winter meetings about strengthening his relief options, something Martinez will have to work on in 2024.
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When asked what the team is looking for this offseason, the D.C. GM said the club wants to give coach Martinez and others more reliable options this winter, and importantly, more innings and appearances. He said he is in the market for several established relief pitchers who will give.
“We can count on good, talented major league relievers, and we won’t have that kind of split between Group A and Group B,” he explained. “Davey, I think every manager likes pitchers who can throw multiple innings, pitchers who can get multiple outs, players who can pitch consecutively, and it’s hard to get young kids to do that, because we do that. ‘Cause I don’t want to push them three days in a row, so that’s often the challenge that managers face, why am I in my GM box, you guys? Why on earth is he in the press box, “why the heck, why not?” Is he getting this guy ready? And he has 10 answers as to why he didn’t prepare…”
In his press conference at the Winter Meetings, Martinez said that in a game that has changed dramatically over the past few seasons, dealing with relief pitchers has recently become part of the big day-to-day job that major league skippers have to do. He said it was. [managers]As the reporter who asked the question said, “If you don’t have the same power as them,” [had] Since “a few years ago,” they have “…not made as many phone calls as they used to.”
“The most important thing is bullpen management. I talk to you guys every day,” Martinez joked to reporters.
“But bullpen management. It’s always important to keep the bullpen fresh and it can wake you up in the middle of the night,” he said. “He needs to make sure he’s not throwing someone just because that person has been throwing three days in a row.”
One of the Nationals’ early moves this winter was adding veteran right-hander Dylan Floro to the back end of the bullpen. This gives Martinez a reliable veteran arm to complement the returning reliever he has relied on the past few seasons.
When asked about his role in the 24-year relief corps, Floro said he is willing to work wherever and whenever needed and expects to work in the slower innings.
“I’m going to do what I’ve always done,” he said on a Zoom call with reporters in the capital.
“When my name is called and I get a chance to pitch, I’m going to go out there and help the team as much as I can so we can get in the win column.”
On Monday, the Nationals announced they had signed Richard Breyer, a 36-year-old left-hander who appeared in 27 games out of the bullpen. boston red sox Last season, and right-hander Robert Gsellman (30), one-off new york mets” The pitcher last appeared in the majors with Chicago in 2022 and spent the past two years in Japan.
Will Nationals scouts find another diamond in the rough this winter?
