The Nationals continued their offseason improvements late Wednesday night by signing free-agent relief pitcher Matt Capps to an undisclosed one-year contract. It is yet another piece added to a reconstructed bullpen after a trade for reliever Brian Bruney and the signing of both veteran free-agent Eddie Guardado and released Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Doug Slaten. Add in free-agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez and starting pitcher Jason Marquis and general manager Mike Rizzo has been one of the sport’s busiest general managers since the season ended.
Capps, 26, was Pittsburgh’s closer for three years, saving 18, 21 and 27 games during that stretch. Unfortunately, his ERA ballooned to 5.80 after three solid seasons with the Pirates and they chose to cut ties with him instead of risking salary arbitration. His agent reportedly was prepared to ask, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, for money in the range of $3.4 million. Capps made $2.425 million in 2009
But Washington sees Capps as an upgrade over Mike MacDougal, whom they picked up after the White Sox released him early last season. MacDougal performed well for the Nats after becoming their closer with 20 saves overall and just one loss and one blown save. But his command has always been suspect and he is essentially a one-pitch reliever. Instead, Rizzo hopes Capps can find the form that helped him to ERAs of 3.79, 2.28 and 3.02 between 2006 and 2008. If he can then the Nats will have some stability on the back end of their bullpen for the first time since Chad Cordero had 37 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 2007.
Washington’s bullpen imploded early last season and eventually finished with a 5.09 ERA – the worst in baseball. Prior to that meltdown , thebullpen was always the one area of strength for a Nats team that fell short in so many others. It had a 3.55 team ERA in 2005 – the only time the club has finished .500 since moving to the District that season – and in 2007 they had a 3.81 ERA. Both times that ranked eighth overall. They were 20th in 2006 (4.49) and 19th in 2008 (4.18). For a team whose starting rotation is still a work-in-progress the relief corps has to stabilize if the organization wants to avoid a third 100-loss season in a row.
Capps joins Bruney and holdovers Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard and Jason Bergmann in the bullpen. Slaten and Guardado will be candidates to make the final roster in spring training. Top prospect Drew Storen is likely the team’s closer of the future, but the added depth means he can stay in the minors to start 2010 and earn his spot in the big leagues if he performs at Double-A and Triple-A. The Nats also have the option of moving someone to the bullpen from their large pool of starting candidates. Either way, Rizzo’s work is far from finished.
