Rule 5 Pick Sterling Sharp Returned
As noted in the comments, RHP Sterling Sharp has indeed cleared waivers and was returned to the Nationals yesterday. Officially, he was placed on the AAA Fresno roster. It is not clear whether or not he will be sent to the Alternate Training site in Fredericksburg.
Sharp had been the first Nats player taken in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 Draft since 2013 when the White Sox plucked away C Adrian Nieto and managed to keep the catcher on the 25-man roster all year.
The irony is that Washington partially contributed to Miami’s move by tagging Sharp for five runs on three hits and three walks over just a 1/3rd an inning this past Sunday. However, he was also ineffective in his penultimate outing, which saw the Mets get to the northpaw for two runs on a Robinson Canó HR, though he also walked two and hit a batter over 2⅓ innings.
Sharp made four appearances total for Miami, with seven runs (six earned) on seven hits (one HR), five walks, and one Victor Robles over five and 1/3rd innings.
I’m happily surprised that he was let go by Miami. You have to think he will go to Fredericksburg so they can see what they have, again.
We’re only 3+ months until the next Rule V.
As I mentioned yesterday, I wonder whether the Nats will make Sharp cool his heels for a while, because of his tweets after the Rule 5 draft, before they invite him to Fredericksburg. Technically, I don’t think they have a 60-man slot open anyway.
I also suggested that there’s no need to protect him for Rule 5 this December. If a depleted team wasn’t willing to stash him on an expanded roster for 60 games, what team is going to want to keep him for 162 in 2021?
All of that said, I hope he continues to develop.
Speaking of Fresno, the Nat contract with that most inconvenient of locales was supposed to expire after the 2020 season. Do we know if that’s still the case, or have the minor-league contracts gotten rolled over for another year?
Oh no… The PBA between MiLB and MLB expires in September and then all hell is supposed to break loose… Last we knew it was 42 teams and some sort of DE facto “Dream League” but that was before the pandemic.
Oh yeah, all of that. I’ve been trying to forget . . .
18 year old Jeremy de la Rosa was just added to the 60 man pool and is now in Fredericksburg.
I’m not sure what to make of this move, other than helping his development.
Someone please explain this to me. I know Nick Banks isn’t going to be a superstar, but the Nats thought enough of him to send him to the AZ Fall League and give him an NRI to 2020 Spring Training. But he’s not in Fredericksburg, and now they’ve added a kid who hit .231 in the GLC and struck out almost 30% of the time. Banks hit .288 at AA. Cole Freeman hit .311 at A+ and has elite speed. I just don’t understand the logic of making this a glorified summer camp for kids who are miles away (developmentally) from the majors, rather than including guys who might could actually not embarrass themselves in an emergency.
FWIW, a second piece from the Nats ill-conceived/ill-fated Hunter Strickland/Roenis Elias trade is now in the majors.
Aaron Fletcher, a Nats 14th round pick in 2018, joins Taylor Gilbeau on the Mariners roster. Both Fletcher and Gilbeau are lefties, and the Nats are in desperate need of a left-handed bullpen option. I believe Hunter Strickland is currently out of baseball having been released by both the Nats and Mets. Elias has pitched a total of 3 innings for the Nationals since being acquired more than a year ago.
I was a big Fletcher fan. I was also good with going all in at the trade deadline last year, though. For once, it actually worked out (overall, not with Elias or Strickland). Good thing Rizzo also picked up Hudson.
While Guilbeau was seen as a low ceiling reliever, Aaron Fletcher was rocketing through the system when traded.
Rizzo loves trading left-handed pitchers.