Quick fellow members of Natstown, do you remember who was the winning pitcher in the final victory for the Montreal Expos? The answer was the closer for the inaugural 2005 Washington Nationals team and the subject of this Time Capsule, Chad Cordero.
Fondly remembered for his flat-brimmed baseball hat and known by his nickname, The Chief, Cordero was the Montreal Expos 1st round pick, 20th overall, in the 2003 MLB draft from Cal State Fullerton. After spending a few months developing in the minor leagues, Cordero made his major league debut on August 30, 2003 in the 7th inning against the Florida Marlins. Cordero quickly capitalized on his opportunity, posting a 1.64 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 12 appearances for the Expos the rest of that season. The following year, 2004, saw Cordero pitch 82.2 innings with a 7-3 record, a 2.94 ERA, 14 saves, and 83 strikeouts while establishing himself as one of the best relievers in the National League.
As a 23-year-old and in his first season in Washington, Cordero had a magical career year, making 74 appearances for the upstart Nationals with a 1.82 ERA and 47 saves in route to being selected to the All-Star team. In addition, Cordero was 5th in the National League Cy Young voting, and 14th in the Most Valuable Player award, nearly unheard of for a reliever. Cordero also captured the NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, an award given annually to the top relief pitcher in each league.
As an acknowledgement of his monster 2005 campaign and blossoming reputation, Cordero was selected to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in the spring of 2006: many Nationals fans pointed toward this early game action as the reason his numbers slipped somewhat that season, as Cordero provided the Nationals with a 3.19 ERA, 29 saves, and 69 strikeouts over 73.1 innings pitched.
Cordero stumbled again early in the 2007 season, as his ailing grandmother served as a distraction and eventually forced him to take a six game leave of absence during May. After resolving those unfortunate issues, Cordero transformed from Clark Kent to Superman, finishing the year with a 3.36 ERA and 37 saves in 75 innings pitched. Noteworthy from this season was that on June 13, Cordero (at 25 years and 86 days) became the second youngest player in baseball history to reach 100 career saves, trailing only Francisco Rodriguez.
This was about the end of the positive news for him on the field, as early in April 2008 Cordero tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss most of the season. While rehabbing his shoulder and still under contract with the team, then general manager Jim Bowden infamously went on Sports Talk 980 in July and stated that Cordero would not be tendered a contract after the season. True to his word, on October 30, 2008 Bowden and the Nationals sent Cordero to Triple-A Syracuse, but because of the incident with Bowden, he rejected the minor league assignment and became a free agent.
The following March Cordero signed a minor league contract with Seattle in expectation of competing for their closer role after recovering from surgery. Unfortunately Cordero was unable to take the mound until July and did not make an appearance in the majors in 2009. He did return to the majors for Seattle on June 3, 2010, throwing only 9.2 innings with a 6.52 ERA before he was released on July 15. Soon thereafter, Cordero signed another minor league deal, this time with the New York Mets and was assigned to Triple-A.
The next winter Chad signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, but was quickly released on May 17th. Cordero then agreed to terms with the St. Paul Saints of the Independent Leagues, but suddenly decided to retire from the game on June 20, 2011. However, this past February The Chief came out of retirement to pitch for the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the Anaheim Angels. Cordero struggled this season, posting a 5.53 ERA in 55.1 innings with 46 strikeouts across two minor league levels. Still only 31-years-old, it will be interesting to see if Cordero ever again returns to the major leagues.
Although his unfortunate shoulder injury derailed a promising career as a reliever, Cordero will forever hold a special place in Washington Nationals history as the closer on the inaugural 2005 team. In a city with a Commander and Chief and many Chiefs of Staff, to loyal Nationals fans there will forever be only one man known as The Chief, #32 Chad Cordero.
This article was also published at our sister website, RedPorchReport.com.