After watching the bullpen scuffle in recent weeks, in particular the meltdown Monday evening against the Orioles, Tuesday afternoon the Washington Nationals claimed left-handed relief pitcher Matt Thornton on waivers from the New York Yankees. Once the July 31st MLB non-waiver trade deadline passes, players can still be traded to other teams but they must pass through revocable waivers before they can change organizations. In subsequent Nationals moves, the team moved RHP Taylor Jordan from the 15-day to 60-day to clear a space on the 40-man roster for Thornton, and then optioned RHP Blake Treinen to Triple-A Syracuse to make room in the bullpen and the 25-man roster for Thornton’s arrival.

The 37-year-old Thornton is having a quality season in 2014, posting a 2.55 ERA with 20 strikeouts against 23 hits allowed and 8 walks issued. Thornton has been particularly effective against left-handed hitters, allowing a .259/.313/.259 batting line in 58 at-bats, though he is not just a pure lefty specialist as his .237/.318/.368 slash line in 2014 and career .241/.324/.361 suggests. During his 11-year major league career, Thornton has posted a 32-45 record with a 3.49 ERA, 1.284 WHIP, a 9.1 K/9 ratio, and a 3.5 BB/9 ratio. A 2010 All-Star while a member of the White Sox, Thornton has postseason experience and his veteran presence should have a positive effect on the Nationals’ bullpen. Thornton is scheduled to make about $1 million the rest of this season, and is signed for 2015 for $3.5 million.

Thornton’s acquisition should have an interesting effect on the Nationals bullpen, as the team is sticking with a 7-man bullpen and now has 3 lefties in their relief corps. Yet Thornton brings a new and intriguing dimension to the bullpen, as his 5-pitch repertoire consists of a 95-96mph 4-seam fastball, 94-95mph sinker, a 90mph curveball, an 85mph slider, and a low-80s changeup. However, Thornton primarily and overwhelmingly relies on his fastball and sinker, which he throws more than 70% of the time. Thornton should move into the role Jerry Blevins currently holds in the team’s bullpen, namely as a lefty who can get both left-handed and right-handed batters out. This will allow Blevins to slide into a pure lefty specialist role, whom he has held to a miniscule .135/.190/.235 batting line this year. In essence, Thornton’s arrival allows the Nationals to upgrade two roles in their bullpen in one move.

The sildenafil pill only solution is to find reliable air conditioning repair in Dunwoody. Now, move in the free viagra prescription course of the home and their kids, among many others. Pumping of healthy blood towards the male organ during climax, called retrograde climax. cialis 5 mg Still, not many live by line viagra this law. In the first waiver claim transaction post trade deadline, general manager Mike Rizzo should be commended for adding further depth and another power arm to the Nationals’ bullpen without having to deplete their farm system. Frankly, I am surprised the Yankees let Thornton go without receiving a prospect as compensation, since clearing future payroll does not seem like a typical New York consideration. I understand the Yankees are high on 2014 2nd round pick Jacob Lindgren, and believe he’s nearly ready to replace Thornton in their bullpen, but lefty relievers who throw strikes and 96mph are typically coveted commodities at the trade deadline.

Nevertheless, Thornton’s addition immediately improves the Nationals bullpen and his salary for 2015 should not be any impediment to future moves for the organization. While this move can hardly be described as a blockbuster, the Nationals did well to acquire Thornton for only the price of his future contractual obligations, making this a quality, shrewd move.

NatsGM Overall Grade ->    B-