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According to reports, the Washington Nationals have contacted the Cincinnati Reds about closer Aroldis Chapman. Although the Nationals have one of the best closers in 2015, Drew Storen, adding Chapman would certainly improve the team’s bullpen woes. The Nationals’ bullpen currently ranks 20th in MLB, with a 3.65 ERA and tied for ninth with nine blown saves. With Storen and Chapman in the eighth and ninth, it would allow the Nationals to shorten games to seven innings.
It’s amazing to me that Chapman has even been made available by the Reds, but I guess it doesn’t make sense to have a closer when they can’t win. The Reds are only 28-34 in 2015, and Chapman has only received 14 save chances, converting 13 of them. His talents are being wasted away in Cincinnati. It’s only a matter of time before the Reds begin a fire sale, and Chapman could be one of the team’s most valuable pieces, considering he is under control for 2016 as well.
From the Nationals’ perspective, the team is in World Series-or-bust mode for 2015, and things aren’t going according to plan. The Nationals currently sit at 33-30, a half-game back of the New York Mets, which is amazing considering the obstacles the team has had to overcome. The bullpen has been terrible, the offense has had a rotating door of players on the disabled list and the starting rotation has dealt with injuries and bad performances. Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer have been saviors for this team.
If general manager Mike Rizzo can bring Chapman to the nation’s capital, the Nationals would immediately be re-installed as the favorites in the National League. One of the team’s biggest issues has been bridging the gap from the starter to Storen in the ninth; now Storen could be the guy to bridge that gap from the starter to Chapman. Opposing teams better hope they have the lead by the end of the seventh inning, or they are going home with a loss.
Jason Fletcher is a MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.
