Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and his staff have done an excellent job this offseason attempting to resolve the flaws on a roster expected to challenge for a playoff berth.  The team acquired pitcher Doug Fister to serve as their 4^th starter, signed Nate McLouth to act as a backup outfielder, and traded for left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins and catcher Jose Lobaton to add roster depth.  Now as spring training is in full swing and exhibition games are beginning, I think the Nationals should look to make one last roster upgrade this spring and sign free agent left-handed reliever Oliver Perez. 

Once a dominant starting pitcher for the Pirates, Perez nearly fell out of baseball in 2011 before reinventing himself as a reliever under the tutelage of Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams.  Perez signed with Seattle in 2012, and posted flashy numbers in relief, with a 2.12 ERA, 1.247 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 29.2 innings pitched. 

Last season for the Mariners, Perez posted a 3.74 ERA with 74 strikeouts against 26 walks over 53 innings pitched, and was particularly effective against left-handed batters, holding them to a .238/.358/.288 batting line.  Blessed with a 92mph fastball and a wipeout slider, his strikeout ability as a reliever allows him to overcome his below-average command.

The Nationals currently have quality depth in their relief corps, and the acquisition of Jerry Blevins earlier this off-season gives the team the lefty reliever coveted this winter.  If Matt Williams wants to keep a second left-handed arm in the bullpen, he could look to Xavier Cedeno and Sammy Solis, amongst others.  However, none of these options have the strikeout potential of Perez, and he could give the Nationals bullpen an interesting dimension they currently lack, a hard-throwing strikeout inducing left-handed reliever.  Perez could prove to be a valuable weapon against the many quality left-handed hitters in the NL East.

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While the Nationals do not have a particular need for another reliever, the team has an opportunity to improve the roster with another quality pitcher in Perez at a potentially bargain price.  Perez certainly entered the winter expecting a comparable hefty contract to other lefty relievers such as J.P. Howell (2yrs $11 million), Boone Logan (3yrs $16.5 million), or Javier Lopez (3yrs $13 million).  For whatever reason Perez remains unsigned, and his rapidly declining leverage could make the Nationals a match on a 1-year contract.

If the Nationals can convince him to sign for less than $2 million dollars, perhaps with some incentives, Perez could be a shrewd addition to the relief corps late in the offseason.  General manager Mike Rizzo is known to be fond of power arms in the bullpen, and the team would be wise to add Perez, if as Bob Barker would say, “The Price Is Right”. 

Date Scouted:   2.21.14 vs. Georgetown – 5 innings, 3 Hits, 3 Walks, 9 strikeouts

7-Word Scouting Report:   Big Lefty, Massive Fastball, Inconsistent Off-Speed Pitches

Even though Mother Nature tried her best this week with the snow to cancel the series between Georgetown and Hartford, Friday afternoon I enjoyed a nice respite from my cabin fever and took in the game between the Hoyas and Hawks.  I was especially intrigued for this contest, as Hartford’s Friday starter is left-handed pitcher Sean Newcomb, considered one of the top pitching prospects in this June’s MLB Draft.  With 20-25 scouts in the stands and the conditions difficult with high 40s temperatures with gusty winds, Newcomb showed why he has first round talent. 

Newcomb possesses a very impressive present 4-pitch repertoire, as Friday he was featuring a monster 90-94mph fastball, with late life and arm side movement, along with an equally impressive 82-84mph slider with quick biting, downward movement that he buried into righties.  In addition, Newcomb threw a 82-85mph changeup with some downward movement that induced whiffs from right-handed batters.  At first I had trouble distinguishing his slider from his changeup, as both are thrown at similar speeds, feature late sinking action, and he confidently threw both on the inside part of the plate against right-handed batters. 

Finally, Newcomb threw a 76-78mph curveball with some loopy action – from previous reports he has thrown a quality curveball in the past but it was not evident in this start.  He only threw a handful of curveballs on Friday, as he did not seem to have a feel for the pitch, probably due to the difficult conditions. 

Newcomb is an absolute mountain of a man, an intimidating presence on the mound as he stands about 6-5 230lbs., and is athletic for his size, which allows him to repeat his delivery and field his position reasonably well for a collegiate pitcher.  His motion is fairly quiet and compact, and the ball seems to jump out of his hand and onto the batter.  At times Friday Newcomb struggled with his delivery, as he would open his body a fraction early, which caused the ball to sail high and left.  Again, for the most part his delivery was impressive and his few struggles can easily be attributed to the elements and it being his first start of 2014. 

I am glad I made the effort Friday afternoon to watch Newcomb pitch, as I am confident in saying I just watched a future major leaguer in action.  I have watched plenty of Georgetown games in recent years, and have seen them compete against noteworthy draft prospects such as A.J. Pollock and Jedd Gyorko, amongst others, and Newcomb is the most impressive prospect I have seen compete against the Hoyas. 

Like any college junior, Newcomb has his flaws, as he needs to command the strike zone better and continue to develop his off-speed offerings.  That said, it is rare to find a left-handed pitcher with a mid-90s fastball, a relatively simple, repeatable delivery, and prototypical physical size for a starting pitcher.  Newcomb should dominate his likely overmatched competition this spring, and I would expect he will be selected in the 1^st round this June, perhaps inside the first 20 picks.  Although he pitches for a small school, the secret is out about Sean Newcomb, and as Eminem would say “The hype is real”! 

Reflecting on the current state of the Nationals minor league system, the organization finds itself at an interesting crossroads; three years ago the Nationals had the top overall system in baseball, but due to trades, graduations to the major leagues, and the lack of a 1^st round selection last June, the farm system lacks the sizzle it did a few years ago.  However, possessing the #19 pick in the 2014 draft, the expected stateside debuts of several players from the 2013 prospect-rich Dominican roster, and the return from injury for several players, the Nationals system should look significantly more impressive twelve months from now. 

That said, continuing yesterday’s article in which we counted down from #30, these are the Top 10 prospects currently in the Washington Nationals minor league system. 

#10         Matt Skole                         3B/1B

After exhibiting power potential with 27 homers in 2012, Skole underwent Tommy John surgery in April which caused him to essentially lose a full year of development in 2013.  Skole has massive power and has shown an aptitude defensively at first base, but scouts question if his propensity to strike out will limit his power numbers in the majors.  He is a big league talent, with his ability to make contact defining whether he is a starter or a reserve player.

#9           Steven Souza Jr.               OF

An extremely raw prospect when drafted by the Nationals in the 3^rd round in 2007, Souza has slowly begun to turn his enormous tools into production on the field, hitting .300/.396/.557 with 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 77 games at Double-A Harrisburg in 2013.  With good speed and a strong throwing arm, Souza profiles as an above-average defensive right fielder.  Offensively Souza has excellent raw power to all fields but struggles with contact issues.  Souza could be the next in a long line of late developing outfielders in Washington. 

#8           Jake Johansen                   RHP

The Nationals top selection in the 2013 draft, 68th overall from Dallas Baptist University, Johansen is a raw 23-year-old pitcher with a 93-97mph fastball and an intriguing but inconsistent slider.  A massively built 6-6 235lbs, Johansen will be developed as a starting pitcher but profiles better as a late-inning reliever.  A boom-or-bust type prospect, Johansen has closer potential if the Nationals can refine his mechanics and improve his breaking ball.

#7           Pedro Severino                                Catcher

Signed by Washington as an international free agent in 2010, Pedro Severino has quickly built a reputation within the organization, and throughout minor league baseball, as one of the best young defensive catchers currently in the minors.  The 20-year-old Severino possesses a strong, accurate throwing arm, is a quiet receiver behind the plate, and garners high marks for his ability to manage a pitching staff, quite noteworthy at his stage of development. 

Severino spent last season in Low-A and held his own offensively, hitting .241/.274/.333 in 282 at-bats. Certainly his defensive skills are well ahead of his hitting ability, but Severino has a quality swing and could emerge as one of the best prospects in the farm system this time next year.

#6           Michael Taylor                  CF

Nationals CFMichael Taylor

An elite defensive centerfielder with outstanding speed and a strong throwing arm, Taylor began to turn his immense tools into production in 2013, hitting .263/.340/.426 with 10 home runs and 51 stolen bases.  Like many young hitters, Taylor struggles to make contract and will face a difficult challenge with Double-A pitching in 2014, but if he can continue to make more contact at the plate, Taylor has a ceiling as an everyday starting center fielder.

#5            Matt Purke                        LHP

Drafted in the 3^rd round of the 2011 draft, Purke has only been able to throw 105.1 innings since signing with Washington, as he has battled a myriad of injuries to his pitching shoulder.  Now healthy, reports have Purke’s velocity back in the 90-94mph range while flashing the occasional above-average slider and changeup.  Purke is aggressively ranked here and has plenty of boom or bust potential due to his past injuries, but if he remains healthy, he could become a #4 starter in the majors as soon as Opening Day 2015. 

#4           Sammy Solis                      LHP

Solis has endured an injury-riddled career since being drafted in the 2^nd round in 2010, only throwing 160.1 innings since becoming a Washington National.  Now 25-years-old and armed with a quality three pitch mix highlighted with a 92-94mph fastball and devastating hammer curveball, Solis has an outside chance of pitching in Washington sometime next season. 

#3           Brian Goodwin                 OF

A still raw 23-year-old center fielder, Goodwin was the Nationals third selection, 34^th overall, in the supplemental 1^st round of the 2011 draft from Miami-Dade CC.  An outstanding athlete with above-average to plus speed, Goodwin flashes above-average defensive potential with 15-20 home run power at the plate.  If he can reduce his strikeouts and polish his overall game, Goodwin has the potential to be a rare above-average offensive and defensive major league center fielder. 

#2           A.J. Cole                              RHP

An impressive 22-year-old starting pitching prospect, Cole is armed with a powerful mid-90s fastball, an above-average changeup with downward sinking movement, and a promising, but underdeveloped slider.  Cole still lacks refinement to his breaking ball, and needs to polish his delivery, but he has the potential to develop into an excellent #3-#4 starter in the near future.

#1           Lucas Giolito                      RHP

The Nationals 1^st round pick, 16th overall in 2012, Giolito underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after signing with Washington.  Giolito has apparently fully recovered from this injury and reports have his repertoire back to his pre-surgery levels, which includes a 94-98mph fastball, a powerful mid-80s curveball, and a potentially Strasburg-like changeup.  Certainly he needs development time in the minor leagues, but Giolito is easily one of the best pitching prospects currently in the minors and his talent could quickly force his way through the system.