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Nats Trade For Younger Tanner

Apparently deciding not to risk a third straight year of decline, the Nationals traded Tanner Roark to the Reds for Tanner Rainey.

As noted by the Post’s latest beat writer in his lede, the move is also about reallocating money—with the exception of second wives, younger is cheaper—toward other another starter. It also probably didn’t hurt that Rainey boasts a triple-digit fastball, which is like cake to a fat kid for GM Mike Rizzo.

The move also adds another horse to the stable of mid-twenty-something, hard-throwing righthanders with control issues (e.g. Jimmy Cordero, Austin Adams, Trevor Gott).

For us, this messes up our annual crowd-sourcing of minor-league pitchers as even a flawed reliever is indeed an upgrade over the upper-minors depth in the system. I appreciate folks who’ve already re-submitted their lists and encourage those who haven’t already to do so.

Next up: the Rule 5 Draft, which will probably be more about which minor-leaguers arrive (Kaleb Fleck, we hardly knew ye) vs. those that depart.

15 Commments

  1. I guess in theory, Rainey should slot in somewhere around 7-9th alongside Braymer and Austen Williams on my list, but for reasons I’ve spelled out in the Arms thread, I won’t rank Rainey. I have no faith in the Nats coaches or Rainey to suddenly find command. What’s most worrisome is his walk rate has increased in 4 of his 5 promotions, starting at an already too high 4.27/9 IP to an outrageous 15.43 BB/9. He looks a hell of a lot like Austin Adams, who doesn’t feature on my list.

      1. This trade reminds me of the George Carlin routine where he says : guys like Biff, Chuck and Joey could beat the ..$&@@&$ out of today’s Ryan’s , … Tanners…

      2. Harrisburg. 2019?
        Agustin. Taylor. Banks. ( Wiseman )
        Sagdal ( Masters ) Garcia Meijia. Montesario. Corredor ( Williams )
        Barrera. ( Reisttetter) Read

        Save Springfield fan some work , Luke ??

  2. Austin Adams, Jimmy Cordero, Henry Rodriguez, and many in between. The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. But if you’re going to take a lottery ticket, why not one who has touched 100 mph, right?

    I agree that Rainey would probably rank somewhere in the nether regions my top 10, and I’d probably include him because he’s “only” 25. Adams was just too old for me to include.

  3. The more you make fun of a ballplayer the more one graviatates towards your club….Wade Miley . Onje dreams about Robbie Ray and ends up maybe with Wade Miley.
    Luke: Top Ten list: most interesting ORG rebuilds/retools. Os, Reds, Minn, SOX….we don’t list the Marlins because they tend to tear down every five years or less anyway…Jeter must be wishing for a league switch to the AL East . Rays to Montreal within five years or less??? Bring back the red white and blue Carter/Dawson/Rogers knits….

  4. I just looked at the Rule V draft results and no one from the major league portion was taken; there was a catcher I don’t know taken in the minor league part.
    I guess that means the Nats f.o. played it right.

  6. Hi Luke,
    I don’t post anymore because the, well, posts don’t come up for a day or two. That’s not a criticism, just the problems with the tech world. Because I am 77, two days is along time to deprive the viewing audience of my wisdom when it comes to baseball.
    However, I still faithfully read and enjoy your column and appreciate the work you do.

  7. Jackson, I agree. The posts taking days to appear is quite a deterrent to post, not like before. I miss the old days….

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