Nationals make a splash!

In a total of one week, Mike Rizzo and the Washington Nationals have forked out a total of $52 million on two players over two years. The Nationals signed closer Rafael Soriano to a 2 year $28 million deal. I for one had to push my jaw back up into position after my ESPN app on my phone alerted me to this signing. The organization seemed pretty content on allowing Drew Storen another chance to make up for his postseason blunder. Alas here we are with a new closer in Washington.

Soriano, who is in his 12th season in the majors, had 42 saves last season for the Yankees. The Nationals hold a vesting option for a third year and will most likely pull the trigger on that options assuming Soriano is as advertised. A 2.26 era last year helped lead to a career year. His 11 year era is 2.78, which still is a solid number. The Nationals played musical chairs last year in the closer position, using Brad Lidge, Henry Rodriguez, Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett and Drew Storen. Nationals pitchers converted only 51 of 68 save chances in the 2012 season. That is only a 75% clip. Soriano was 42 of 46 in save opportunities, sporting a 91.3% save percentage.

One can only assume that either Tyler Clippard or Drew Storen could be on their way out of Washington. It has be noted through numerous outlets that the Nationals tried to trade Drew Storen in 2011 for now National center fielder Denard Span. I would have to assume that the Nationals realize that they need a left handed arm in the back of the bullpen. They did sign former Nationals prospect Bill Bray to a minor league contract, but if the front office is willing to spend $28 million on a closer, wouldn't they have offered up more to a Sean Burnett or gone after J.P. Howell?

So now that I have had a chance to digest what has happened lets look at the what ifs. What if the Nationals don't trade anybody just yet? The last three innings of a ball game will have Clippard, Storen and Soriano available to pitch. That will put any other teams bullpen to shame. This also enables the team to limit the innings of a Stephen Strasburg or even Dan Haren to keep everyone fresh come October. As of now, the bullpen will consist of Clippard, Storen, Soriano, Duke, Garcia, Matthues, Stammen, and possibly a Henry Rodriguez or a Cole Kimball. Also with minor league deals to Bray, Ross Ohlendorf, and Brandon Mann, the team could keep 8 bullpen arms.

Clearly Mike Rizzo is taking a win now approach. While the team did have to give up their 2013 first round draft pick for Soriano, the Yankees offered him a qualifying offer, they did solve a problem at the back end of the bullpen. I don't see there being any sort of controversy of who the closer will be. $14 million a year pretty much guarantees Soriano first crack at the spot. However, the team in no way needs to trade Clippard or Storen this season. Teams that win a World Series have strong bullpen arms to hold down those close game leads. Signing Soriano may be a questionable move, but the Nationals were literally a strike away from advancing in the playoffs, if Rizzo believes this is what they need then lets all hop on the wagon and see where it take us.