Monday news broke and Wednesday it was confirmed – The Washington Nationals had reached agreement on a 1-year $1 million contract with free agent reliever Joaquin Benoit.  In a corresponding move, Washington placed Joe Ross on the 60-day disabled list in order to create space on the 40-man roster for Benoit.

The 40-year-old right-hander split last season with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, throwing 50.1 innings over 52 appearances with a 4.65 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 1.291 WHIP and 46 strikeouts against 22 walks.  Benoit was solid for Philadelphia early in the year (4.07 ERA, 3.80 FIP) but collapsed in the Iron City, allowing 9 runs, 11 hits and 6 walks in only 8.1 innings for the Pirates.  For his 16-year major league career, Benoit has been a productive late-inning reliever, with a 3.83 ERA, 1.235 WHIP and 53 saves over 1,068 innings pitched.  Benoit primarily relies on his 94-95mph fastball and a mid-80s changeup, while mixing in the occasional slider.  While his velocity and swinging strike percentage (13.3%) remained strong in 2017, it is concerning his walk rate and home runs allowed have elevated over career norms in both 2016 and 2017.  These flaws must subside if the veteran wishes to remain a productive major league reliever.

Try getting a personal trainer buy viagra australia and working out several times per week. It is recommended to take find out my link now purchase cheap viagra pills around 4 to 6 hours. Several other well-known significant symptoms can also be a sign cheap viagra that you immediately require relationship counseling. Kamagra jelly is a newly formulated medicine mouthsofthesouth.com best cheap viagra that is prescribed by the doctors and it continues to occupy highest priority space in the lives of male customers. Benoit provides Washington’s bullpen with something it lacked without him, namely a consistent right-handed reliever who can bolster the middle relief corps.  Certainly Koda Glover, Shawn Kelley and perhaps even Austin Adams could fill this role in 2018, but all three come with significantly more risk than Benoit.  One could argue all three come with more potential upside, but Benoit’s reliability and higher “floor” makes him a solid addition to Washington’s relief corps.  Also, Benoit’s career 8.9 K/9 ratio makes him a nice contrast to fellow free agent signee and groundball producing machine Brandon Kintzler in a setup capacity ahead of Ryan Madson and closer Sean Doolittle.

In general, it is difficult to quibble with signing a durable reliever for only $1 million and Benoit should give the Nationals quality production this season.  Washington capitalized on the slow free agent market to add a reliable pitcher on a below-market contract.  However, I must caution Benoit is no longer an elite reliever like he was from 2010-2015, but a pitcher who should provide 45-50 innings of league-average results.  If expectations are kept with this in mind, Washington’s front office just acquired additional depth for only a $1 million commitment, a quality and logical move.

NatsGM Grade  ->           B

According to various media outlets, the Washington Nationals have signed Howie Kendrick to a 2-year pact worth $7 million guaranteed, along with an additional $2.25 million in incentives.  Washington acquired Kendrick last July in an inter-division trade with Philadelphia for prospect McKenzie Mills and international bonus money.

The 34-year-old Kendrick battled injuries much of last season, playing only 91 games for Philadelphia and Washington while hitting .315/.368/.475 with 9 home runs.  In particular Kendrick was invaluable for the Nationals, batting .293/.343/.494 and played four different defensive positions.  For his 12-year career, Kendrick owns a .291/.334/.421 batting line with 104 home runs and 123 stolen bases.  He has impressive barrel skills and a compact right-handed swing, allowing him to be an easy plus hitter.  Additionally, Kendrick has added some defensive versatility in his later years, seeing time at first, second and third base plus both corner outfield spots.  He is not a great defender, but his speed, athleticism and reasonable throwing arm allow him to be passable at each position.

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Although the Hot Stove feels rather frigid this winter, the Nationals have done a nice job securing three veterans (Kendrick, Matt Adams & Brandon Kintzler) to fill voids on the roster at reasonable prices. Overall there is very little to quibble with this signing, although Kendrick does have some risks involved in his profile.  He will turn 35 this season and just completed his best offensive season in six years, leading to the obvious conclusion some regression is coming this season offensively.  However, Kendrick is a born hitter with natural athleticism, giving plenty of hope he should continue to be productive the next two years.  And considering Washington needed additional depth and made only a $7 million total guarantee, this is a terrific signing for the Nationals to secure Kendrick through 2019.

NatsGM Overall Grade ->             A- / B+

Wednesday the New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported the Washington Nationals and free agent Matt Adams had agreed on a 1-year deal worth $4 million, plus $500,000 in possible incentives.  The 29-year-old first baseman spent 2017 with both St. Louis and Atlanta, batting .274/.319/.522 with 20 home runs and 65 runs driven in.  Atlanta decided to non-tender Adams earlier this winter, rather than pay him a projected $4.6 million during arbitration.

Drafted by St. Louis in the 23^rd round in 2009 from Slippery Rock University, Adams slugged his way through the Cardinals’ minor league system, reaching the majors in 2012.  During his 6-year major league career, the left-handed hitting Adams is a .271/.315/.469 batter over 586 total games.  Of particular interest to Washington is Adams’ ability to punish right-handed pitching, to the tune of .286/.333/.495 for his career.  Conversely, he struggles mightily against lefties, hitting a dreadful .206/.236/.357.  He projects to fill Adam Lind’s role from 2017 as a backup to Ryan Zimmerman at first base and a fearsome pinch hitter option late in games.

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Building off Adam Lind, he and Matt Adams are eerily similar players – both are left-handed hitting first basemen whom have dabbled unsuccessfully playing corner outfield.  Lind is a career .272/.330/.465 hitter and a .288/.348/.504 hitter against righties, verses .271/.315/.469 and .286/.333/.495 for Adams – Washington interestingly passed on Lind’s $5 million contract option last month, only to sign Adam Lind 2.0 (aka Matt Adams) for $1 million less.

General Manager Mike Rizzo has done a nice job this winter targeting proven veterans to fill voids on the roster.  We are still awaiting official confirmation on the Brandon Kintzler contract and Adams must pass his physical, but considering the budget constraints, securing both for meager 2018 salaries is a clear win.  Adams is a flawed player who must be limited to first base defensively and hitting only against righties, but utilized properly, can be a highly productive hitter.  There is some risk involved in this signing due to his limitations, but Washington has found a nice value and quality match  with Matt Adams.

NatsGM Overall Grade ->             Solid B, Borderline B+