Nats Add Four To 40-Man Roster
For the first time since 2011, the Washington Nationals have added more than a couple players to its 40-man roster in preparation for next month’s Rule 5 draft. RHP A.J. Cole, IF Wilmer Difo, LHP Matt Grace, and OF Brian Goodwin were added this afternoon while RHP Ryan Mattheus (released) and IF Pedro Florimon (waived) were removed. Earlier this week, LHP Matt Purke was also released as was longtime backup backstop Jhonatan Solano.
Even F.P. Santangelo could have predicted the inclusion of Cole; that’s how obvious it was. A hard-throwing RHP is relatively easy to bury in an MLB bullpen, not to mention that GM Mike Rizzo traded for him in January 2013 some 13 months after dealing him away as part of the Gio Gonzalez trade. Cole figures to begin 2015 in AAA, but if history is any guide, a strong spring and/or injuries could have him making his MLB debut before Memorial Day.
Perhaps it’s more of an indictment against the other MI options than an endorsement of his future viability, though Wilmer Difo did about as much as a Low-A prospect could do in 2014, winning South Atlantic League MVP while earning the second annual Bob Boone award. The 22-y.o. posted a .315/.360/.470 line while showing both power (14HR) and speed (49SBs). Difo figures to begin next season in Potomac, though I’m sure his inclusion on the 40-man will spur speculation of a two-level promotion.
As noted in the previous post, Grace’s 2014 season earned him a place as a situational lefty and could be the next Aaron Barrett. He may not throw 95 mph but does generate a lot of ground balls (3.23 G/F ratio) and is tough on left-handed batters (just a .371 OPS). If he doesn’t make the 25-man roster, look for him to return to Syracuse in 2015 and have a carry-on bag ready to go.
Brian Goodwin was once the heir apparent to Denard Span but now has Michael Taylor breathing down his neck. Injuries limited Goodwin to just 81 games last season, but having turned just 24 less than three weeks ago, it would seem that the Nats brass seem willing to let him get healthy in 2015 while also serving as insurance should Taylor falter. It will be interesting to see how the two (Goodwin & Taylor) will be used when they appear in the same outfield, though I’d be more surprised about seeing Goodwin in LF than Taylor in RF, given the latter’s cannon right arm.
The question that remains is whether Skole is taken in the Rule 5 draft. I would almost like to see it happen, let him get some big league time with a strong team, and then be returned simply because of a numbers game. Let him get his cup of coffee and then work to earn serious MLB time with a strong season in Syracuse.
My work here is done. Five years ago, there would have been a wail of comments about leaving Skole exposed on NFA and elsewhere. Now, folks realize it’s calculated risk that will more than likely pay off by virtue of Skole returning. Never mind he turns 26 in July.
But…. but…. Adrian Nieto!!!!11!!
Funny junk. Nice to pop in and see a satisfied blogfather patting himself on the back!
I wonder if it says anything about what they think about the much younger Drew Ward who would ostensibly replace Skole as the developing big left-handed bat?
Difo is certainly an interesting add. Not every day that low-A guys get protected. I’m guessing that there was a risk that somebody would take him as a pinch runner, or would bet that his speed/power combo would play well enough as a replacement level player at the bigs while he still was learning.
I’m not really surprised that the Nats didn’t protect Skole, but he becomes the prospect most threatened by Rule 5. I probably shouldn’t put it that way, though, as getting drafted would present quite an opportunity for Skole himself. He has the power to intrigue some team, although I wonder if a team with such a need might now grab Ike Davis instead. With Skole’s struggles last season, I’d say there’s only a one in three chance he gets drafted, if that.
There would be much, much smaller chances of losing Holland or Vettleson. Those guys would be real fliers for some team. Are there other players with even mentionable chances of being picked?
Although Adrian Nieto is Chisox property, it is still arguable whether he will even be on their major league roster next year.
Agreed. From a roster-maneuver standpoint, he was was like a 26-y.o. w/o options in 2014, now he has three and can defensibly be put at AA or AAA “so he can play everyday.”