In a slightly overlooked part of Joe Ross’s return from the disabled list, last week the Washington Nationals designated minor league infielder Chris Bostick for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.  Then Monday, in a related move, Washington traded Bostick to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for catching prospect Taylor Gushue and cash considerations.

The 23-year-old Bostick split time this year between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, hitting .250/.313/.386 with eight homers and 11 steals.  Acquired as part of the Ross Detwiler trade, Bostick showed promise in 2015 splitting time between High-A and Double-A, batting .258/.312/.398 with 12 home runs, 42 extra base hits and 31 stolen bases.  He possesses above-average to plus speed, and average raw pull power, but his inability to consistently make contact hinders his overall offensive profile.

Defensively Bostick does not project particularly well at any one position, as his fringe-average arm and mediocre hands makes him a liability in the infield.  In addition, he does not have enough arm strength for right field or center field, making him profile as a left fielder.  With experience, one would expect Bostick to play an average or better left field, but his offense do not profile at a corner position.  Hence the scout’s conundrum with Bostick is he does not hit enough to be a starter in the outfield and is not a good enough defender to play in the infield.  So while I believe in his ability to be a versatile National League bench player, this is likely also his eventual ceiling.

Long-lasting relief- The effects of this Ajanta Pharma product is not licensed for usage in the United Kingdom only, millions other men in the world live with the myth that impotency couldn’t be redeemed as there was no effective treatment existed at that time in order to help him to sort out this wholesale prices viagra disorder. What does make cialis online without prescriptionive on ED? Sildenafil citrate is an active element that makes men able to attain erection during sexual intercourse. In case, if you experience any serious side-effect, consult tadalafil 20mg india your doctor immediately. Take proper methods of contraception to prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancy. india generic tadalafil In return for Bostick, Washington receives the 22-year-old Gushue, Pittsburgh’s 4^th round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft from the University of Florida.  Gushue spent this season at High-A, hitting .226/.282/.357 with 8 home runs and 38 runs batted in over 90 games played.  Gushue, a switch-hitter, flashes good raw pull power, but his barrel skills and hit tool need significant improvement.

Listed at 6-1 215lbs, Gushue is rather athletic for a catcher, possessing good receiving skills plus an average or better throwing arm.  His footwork and ability to block pitches need refinement, as they were raw coming out of college.  His career caught stealing percentage is below-average at 25%, likely in part due to his sloppy feet.   Gushue has an intriguing package of raw tools, but his inability to make consistent contact likely limits his upside to a backup catcher or career option lingering at Triple-A.

Overall I was disappointed by the team’s original decision to designate Bostick for assignment, as he has long been a sleeper of mine and I believe there are more expendable players currently on the 40-man roster.  Considering the team recently traded another infield prospect, Max Schrock, I would have preferred to part with relievers Rafael Martin, Matt Grace or Yusmeiro Petit rather than Bostick.

However, considering the circumstances involved in trading a designated for assignment prospect in late September, the Nationals did well to receive an intriguing catching prospect and cash in return for Bostick.  Washington has done a nice job in recent years developing catching prospects, and I am intrigued to see if the organization can develop Gushue’s skills into a potential major leaguer.  With the obvious caveat that I disagreed with the original decision, Washington’s front office made a solid trade getting Taylor Gushue for Chris Bostick.

NatsGM Grade     ->     B-

Thursday morning news broke that the Washington Nationals have acquired left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski and cash considerations from the Oakland Athletics for prospect Max Schrock.  Recently the Nationals have placed Sammy Solis on the disabled list and seen Oliver Perez struggle, making the acquisition of an additional left-handed reliever vital.  Rzepczynski should immediately step into a left-handed specialist role in Washington’s bullpen, and gives manager Dusty Baker another weapon in the 7^th and 8^th innings.

The 31-year-old Rzepczynski has been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster season for Oakland, providing the Athletics with a 3.00 ERA, 3.62 FIP and 1.722 WHIP, with 37 strikeouts against 24 walks over 56 appearances and 36 innings pitched.  His 24 walks allowed are rather alarming, although 6 of the 24 were intentional walks, making the true number more palatable.

Traditionally a lefty specialist during his 8-year career, Rzepczynski has struggled this season against lefties, allowing a .296/.360/.395 batting line in 2016.  In fact, he has been more successful against righties this season (.674 OPS vs .755 OPS) than lefties.  However, for his career Rzepczynski has held left-handed batters to a miserly .225/.295/.302 line, with only 8 home runs allowed in 640 at-bats.  In general, Rzepczynski is successful because he strikes out hitters as a healthy rate (9.5 K/9 in 2016, 8.6 career) and limits home runs allowed (0.3 HR/9 in 2016, 0.8 career).  A free agent at season’s end, Rzepczynski is likely a pure rental for Washington.

To make this upgrade, the Nationals were forced to part with Max Schrock, their 13^th round pick in the 2015 draft.  Schrock was signed to an over-slot $400,000 bonus last summer and has proven the Nationals’ decision wise thus far, reaching High-A Potomac several weeks ago, and hitting .333/.378/.456 across two levels this season.

The nearly 22-year-old Schrock is a polarizing prospect, as few question his hitting ability but focus on his defensive limitations.  Schrock has below-average speed and a fringe-average (or worse) arm, making him a poor fit in the infield.  He has strong baseball instincts so he plays a quality left field, although his arm strength will never allow him to be more than average there.  So Schrock’s detractors point to his defensive limitations and label him as a Quad-A player or bench player at best.  Conversely, his supporters point to his “60” hit tool, extra base power and baseball IQ to make the case that he is a future major leaguer who will overachieve his physical ability.  I tend to fall into the latter camp, as I think he is a big league player in a non-impact capacity, perhaps as soon as 2018.
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My instant reaction to this trade is mixed, as I fully comprehend the position the Nationals are in needing bullpen help, and the limited players obtainable in August to improve their roster.  Not to mention their successful record and the way reverse waivers work in baseball further limits those available.  So considering those caveats, Washington did well to secure a lefty who immediately improves their bullpen.  Rzepczynski gives the Nationals a second left-handed option and could easily surpass Perez as the top lefty down the stretch.  The Nationals’ 25-man and 40-man roster is stronger now than it was prior to this deal, so in a vacuum that is a successful trade.

That said I still feel strong reservations about making this deal.  Rzepczynski has struggled against lefties this season and does not feel like the dominant specialist the Nationals’ covet.  So while the team is better, I wonder how much better they are.  In addition, I am a big fan of Max Schrock and his potential to be a major league player.  No question there are warts in his prospect profile, but his ability to barrel the baseball should allow him to reach the majors.  A future big league player, even one lacking impact potential, is a significant price for five weeks plus playoffs of Rzepczynski.

While I certainly respect the team’s pressing need for bullpen help, I do not see Rzepczynski as enough of an upgrade to part with an intriguing bat like Schrock – Because of this, I would have passed on this proposal and sought another option.

NatsGM Grade ->      D

Friday afternoon reporter Chris Cotillo broke the news that the Washington Nationals had acquired veteran left-handed reliever Sean Burnett from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations.  He will report to Triple-A Syracuse and provides a potentially intriguing piece of left-handed depth for Washington.

Many will remember Burnett from his previous stint in Washington from 2009-2012, when he established himself as one of the top lefties in the National League.  The Nationals acquired Burnett, along with Nyjer Morgan, in June 2009 from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Joel Hanrahan and Lastings Milledge.

Furthermore Burnett spent spring training with the Nationals this spring, but requested his release when he was told he would not make the Opening Day roster.  He has spent this season at Triple-A for the Braves, Dodgers and Twins, posting a 1.91 ERA and 28 strikeouts against 14 walks in 42.1 innings pitched.  Of note, Burnett has allowed only a .164/.203/.236 batting line over 55 at-bats against left-handed hitters this season.

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Typically a trade for Triple-A depth on an August Friday would go unnoticed, but this transaction has a chance to be impactful down the stretch.  Washington just lost LHP Sammy Solis to left-shoulder tendonitis, a particularly large concern considering his past shoulder injuries.  The other lefty in their bullpen, Oliver Perez, has struggled this season to a 5.61 ERA, 4.49 FIP and a .698 OPS allowed against lefties.  The Nationals have LHP Matt Grace on the 40-man roster and Nick Lee and Bryan Harper in the minor leagues, but might feel more comfortable turning to the veteran Burnett to get lefties out than that inexperienced trio.

If Burnett continues to get Triple-A hitters out the next 10 days or so, do not be surprised if he receives a promotion to Washington when rosters expand in September, or possibly before.  Every team needs bullpen depth in September, but the Nationals could particularly use additional arms to spell some veterans if they capture the division crowd with games to spare.

Another potential benefit of this deal is this could “rattle the cage” of Oliver Perez, who is under contract for next season.  This deal is the definition of a low-risk / medium reward trade and the potential benefit of Burnett have a two-month run of excellence, or Perez regaining his focus, is greater than parting with a small cash sum. Not all moves are major, but these are often the deals that separate mediocre front offices from the elite –  This is a good gamble for the Nationals.

After weeks of speculation, rumor finally became reality Saturday afternoon when the Washington Nationals agreed to acquire Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Mark Melancon for LHP Felipe Rivero and prospect Taylor Hearn.  A 3-time All-Star, Melancon immediately solidifies the closer role for Washington, a position Jonathan Papelbon has poorly filled since his arrival last year at the trade deadline.  According to media reports, the Pirates will also send approximately $500,000 to the Nationals to help cover some of Melancon’s $9.65 million salary.

The 31-year-old Melancon is in the midst of yet another solid season, providing the Pirates with a 1.51 ERA and 30 saves, with 38 strikeouts against only 31 hits and 9 walks in 41.2 innings pitched.  For his 8-year career, Melancon has a 2.65 ERA, 1.052 WHIP and a 3.88 K/BB ratio.  Melancon does not possess extreme velocity typical for a closer, rather relying on his masterful command of his 90-92mph cutter and a low-80s knuckle curveball.  This allows him to limit his hits allowed (7.4 per 9), home runs (0.5 HR/9) and walks (2.1 per 9).  In short, he does everything, except rack up massive strikeout totals (8.2 K/9) that one would want from a reliever.  He should immediately take over for Papelbon as Washington’s closer and is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.

Acquired as part of the Jose Lobaton trade with Tampa Bay for Nathan Karns, Rivero has blossomed since his move to the bullpen last year.  Rivero possesses an impressive 3-pitch arsenal with a 95-97mph fastball, an excellent upper-80s changeup and a hard low-80s slider. The 25-year-old lefty has not achieved the same level of success this season as he did as a rookie, when he posted a 2.79 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 48.1 innings for the Nationals.

Currently Rivero sports a 4.53 ERA over 49.2 innings pitched, though his underlying numbers (3.26 FIP, 1.168 WHIP and 53 strikeouts) show he has been significantly more effective than this ERA might indicate.  Aside from a few poor outings in June, Rivero has been a solid relief pitcher during his time in Washington.  Rivero is particularly attractive to the small market Pirates, as he is under team control through 2021.

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My immediate reaction to this trade was to proclaim it a steal for Washington, as I was letting the recent Aroldis Chapman trade cloud my thoughts on the price to acquire relief pitching.  And certainly, Melancon is a lesser but comparable reliever to Chapman, but cost approximately half as much is future value to acquire.  By that logic, Washington is a slam-dunk winner.

However, the Chapman trade, along to a lesser degree the Craig Kimbrel and Ken Giles swaps last winter, feel like the outliers while this feels like a more “normal” return for a pending free agent.  Pittsburgh feels they can replace Melancon in-house, save some money in a year they are unlikely to reach the postseason, and receive 11 years of future control on two hard-throwing lefties.  The Pirates drafted Hearn in 2012, so they obviously like his potential and Rivero immediately slots into their bullpen, replacing Melancon’s vacated spot.  So from Pittsburgh’s perspective, this looks like a good long-term decision.

Nevertheless, I still think Washington did extremely well in this trade.  Losing Rivero hurts their left-handed relief corps and Hearn was much higher on team’s “acquire lists” than on online prospect lists, so the cost is legitimate.  Still, Melancon fills the team’s biggest weakness and swiftly upgrades the team overall.  And neither Rivero nor Hearn figure to develop into players that will particularly burn the Nationals down the road – solid contributors certainly, but unlikely to be elite players.

Washington received one of the top-10 relief pitchers in baseball, did not part with any of their top prospects or hurt the franchise long-term, and have a stronger roster today than they did yesterday, making this a solid win for the Nationals.

NatsGM Overall Grade                 ->            B+