The Washington Nationals may have lost Wednesday afternoon, but they got on a plane headed to Arizona a few hours later with some optimism that, finally, something has been done to try to fix baseball’s worst bullpen.
While the Nationals were being pounded by the Atlanta Braves, general manager Mike Rizzo and his staff were busy working the phones on South Capitol Street, landing three veteran relievers before Major League Baseball’s 4 p.m. trade deadline.
The Nationals traded for lefty Roenis Elias and right-hander Hunter Strickland from the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Daniel Hudson, who pitched in college at Old Dominion, from the Toronto Blue Jays. Strickland is known to Nationals fans as one who helped start a brawl with Bryce Harper when he pitched for the Giants in 2017.
“We feel good about what we did today,” Rizzo said. “I think we have upgraded our bullpen.”
Washington gave up minor leaguer Kyle Johnston, a 2017 sixth-rounder who was 9-9 with a 4.03 ERA at Single-A Potomac, for Hudson, who is 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA.
“(Hudson) is having a great year this year,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said.
Washington entered Wednesday with a bullpen ERA of 5.97. The relievers are 15-25 this season after the Braves won 5-4 in 10 innings as closer Sean Doolittle gave up a game-winning homer in the 10th inning.
Upping the ante was that the first-place Braves were also improving themselves Wednesday. They acquired former Nationals closer Mark Melancon in a deal with the San Francisco Giants and Detroit closer Shane Greene in a trade with the Tigers.
Doolittle said, when the front office makes a deal to help a team, it brings a boost to the clubhouse.
“We will be playing with a lot of confidence on Friday in Arizona,” Doolittle said.
“They are trying to help us down the stretch,” Washington pitcher Anibal Sanchez said.
The downside for veteran players, of course, is parting ways with former teammates.
To make room on the active roster, the Nationals designated veteran pitchers Michael Blazek and Javy Guerra for assignment Wednesday. Washington sent minor league pitchers Elvis Alvarado, Aaron Fletcher and Taylor Guilbeau to Seattle in the deal for Strickland and Elias. Veteran reliever Jonny Venters was moved to the 60-day injured list.
After an off-day Thursday, the Nationals begin a three-game series Friday at the Diamondbacks.
Washington’s other NL East rival, the Philadelphia Phillies, bolstered their outfield by acquiring veteran Corey Dickerson from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dickerson hit .317 with four home runs and 25 RBI for the Pirates after he missed most of the first half of the season with a strained throwing shoulder.
In the American League, the Houston Astros acquired ace Zack Greinke, adding another All-Star to a formidable rotation that already included Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. The AL West leaders got Greinke from the Diamondbacks for four minor leaguers.
The Cleveland Indians sent temperamental starter Trevor Bauer to Cincinnati in a three-team deal on Tuesday that they hope helps them catch the Minnesota Twins. Cleveland, which trails the AL Central by three games, sent Bauer to the Reds for slugger Yasiel Puig and left-hander Scott Moss.
⦁ This article is based in part on wire service reports.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.