Offseason Update: Nov. 15, 2022
Tonight is the deadline for the Nationals to add guys to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft. As noted in the comments, one of their roster decisions got a whole lot easier with Seth Romero’s latest DWI – his second of 2022, and third overall (that we know of). No word on whether he was having a beer with Jake Johansen.
Jokes aside, any doubts that this was the worst No. 1 pick during the Rizzo era went up in smoke were erased with this incident. It only took Washington five years to recognize what 29 other teams saw in 2017, which you can see here wasn’t exactly a stellar draft for the Nats, either.
Who will get protected? E-migo Todd Boss has you covered with his annual analysis of the Nats’ Rule 5 protection decisions. My quick take: [Greg Brady] For every pitcher they add, they’ll drop one who was hurt. [/Greg Brady]
Looking at that 2017 draft it looks like Jackson Tetreault will be the one most contributing to the big club as a 7th round pick.
It’s important to remember how Scott Boras had a nose ring installed on Ted Lerner before that draft. He went OVER slot to a pick with no leverage at all. That left them no money to sign their 15th round pick, who debuted for the Mets this year.
I confess: I could never make myself root for Romero, even though he was one of “ours.” I did try. But when you waste your talent, continue to skirt the rules, and keep expecting others to bail you out and give you another chance, you’re not getting my support. I hated the idea of drafting him even when he was being mentioned for the Nats in mocks. It didn’t take the Psychic Hotline to predict that this wouldn’t end well.
I do hope the young man will get his life together, but he and the Nats both got the misery they deserved out of that stupid pick.
Brass sure did drop the proverbial sure thing fly ball in the outfield on numerous previous number one slot picks .
KW, I remember BEFORE the 2017 draft you were saying don’t pick the stupid kid out of Houston. Sadly you were right.
If not for that nose ring we could have had a very productive player from that pick.
Yes, I’ve never been more sure that a pick wasn’t going to end well. Sorry that I was right. Keith Law in particular loved Romero, literally said that he might be in the Nat bullpen by the 2017 playoffs. But of course Romero was out of shape and in no way capable of that.
What would an alternative history have looked like? I suspect that if Rizzo had passed on Romero that he would have taken the oft-hyped, oft-injured Nate Pearson, who still hasn’t done much for the Blue Jays. The pitcher who interested me (and was mocked to the Nats by some) was Alex Lange out of LSU, who went five picks after Romero (and signed for $875K less). He’s now a steady middle reliever for the Tigers, appearing in 71 games this season. Nothing too exciting, but not a failed pick. The hitter who interested me, Brent Rooker, who went 10 picks after Romero, hit 28 homers at AAA this season but has yet to stick in the majors and just turned 28. He’s now with the Royals and may get a real opportunity with them in 2023.
I am having the same gut hunch reaction to Hobie Harris signing as I did with Pal Joey .
Under the radar AAA signing for someone who eventually will plug into a very useful role .