Chad Cordero spent much of the afternoon checking his cell phone, knowing any moment could be his last in a Nationals uniform.
That’s life for a baseball player who’s name is mentioned in trade rumors when the non-waiver trade deadline looms on the final day of July. But it doesn’t make fending off the rumors any easier.
However close the front office came to pulling the trigger, the phone never rang. And at the end of the day, instead of packing his bags, Cordero found himself still on the mound at RFK Stadium polishing off yet another save.
The Nats used a five-run fifth inning to take control Tuesday against Cincinnati and Cordero and the bullpen did the rest in a 6-3 victory.
“It’s much harder your first couple of trade deadlines, all the sitting around and waiting,” said Nats catcher Brian Schneider. “But as players, we hear so many different rumors. After a while you learn to ignore it. You have to.”
In the top of the ninth, Cordero retired the side in order and has now allowed just one earned run in his last 11 innings. He has converted 10 of his last 11 save opportunities.
Since returning from the Bereavement List on May 14 after the death of his grandmother, Cordero has converted 18 of his 21 save opportunities and an ERA of 1.74 during that stretch. It made him a popular target for contenders looking for relief help. In the end, not popular enough for the Nats’ liking.
“It means for sure that we’re going to win some more games. That bullpen has been the strength of our team all year,” said Nats manager Manny Acta. “But I can’t speak for what that’s like for a player near the deadline. All I knew was that I wasn’t going to be traded.”
Seeing Red
» Five straight Nats reached base in the bottom of the fifth inning to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 lead. Ryan Zimmerman struck the biggest blow, a three-run double.
» A former local standout was involved in a deadline trade Tuesday. Minor league pitcher Jon Link (Chantilly High/Virginia Tech) was part of a deal that sent two prospects to Chicago White Sox from San Diego.
