The Washington Nationals are continuing to make moves to improve their roster heading into spring training and added a reliever on Wednesday. Following the signing of Max Scherzer, it looks like one of the team's starters may move to the bullpen unless they make a trade.
According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, right-hander Casey Janssen has agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. The deal guarantees him $5 million (base salary plus 2016 buyout) and carries a mutual option for the 2016 season. Ten days ago Rosenthal reported the Nats "checked in" on Janssen as they were seeking bullpen help.
The 33-year-old began 2014 on the disabled list with a back injury and didn't make his season debut until May 12. He finished 3-3 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 25 saves in 50 games (45 2/3 innings) with the Toronto Blue Jays. Janssen spent his entire career with Toronto and was the team's closer for the past three seasons, compiling an 8-5 record with a 2.94 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 81 saves in 168 games (162 innings). He'll likely fill the void at setup man, which was left by Tyler Clippard when the Nats traded him to the Oakland Athletics for infielder Yunel Escobar.
The Nationals have yet to confirm the deal.
Speaking of the bullpen, it looks like one of the team's starters might be moved out of the rotation and become a reliever. Ever since Washington signed Max Scherzer to a seven-year deal, it was speculated they were either going to trade one of their starters who are set to become free agents after 2015 (Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister), or move Tanner Roark to the bullpen.
With Scherzer, Zimmermann, Fister, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez, it's pretty clear Roark will be moved into a relief role, despite a wildly impressive campaign in 2014. The right-hander went 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 31 starts with the Nationals in his first season as a full-time starter. He made his MLB debut in 2013, but only appeared in 14 games (five starts) and went 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.
Unfortunately, the 28-year-old, although nothing is set in stone, looks like he'll be the odd man out. Roark has previous experience as a reliever in the minor leagues where he made 67 relief appearances from the Rookie League to Triple-A. Every other starter in the Nats' rotation has been a full-time starter for the majority of their careers. Roark was also moved to the bullpen during the postseason when the team went with Strasburg, Zimmermann, Fister and Gonzalez as their four-man rotation.
"Everyone is working hard and being prepared, so we'll see how it all pans out," Manager Matt Williams said, via Andrew Simon of MLB.com. "But right now, all those guys are getting their arms in shape to be starters."
