Seeking relief help, the Nationals traded for Brian Bruney. Bruney tied his career high giving up 6 home runs and has never pitched more than 50 innings in a season. Then the Nats won the Matt Capps sweepstakes over the Chicago Cubs to fill the presumed closer opening. Capps put up his career-worst ERA (5.80). If that's not another indicator, the last time Capps put up a WHIP higher than his 2009 WHIP (1.656) was in a brief 2004 stint in the Sally league.
To create more depth, the Nationals signed Eddie Guardado to a minor league deal for a chance for him to pitch in his 18th professional season. Last year, as a Ranger, the team pulled a joke on him and said he was being traded to the Nationals. Guardado said as he was being pranked, "They're all sitting around and nobody is smiling. I go, 'Washington Nationals? You've got to be kidding.' "
Bruney wants to close and told the Washington Post as much in December:
"I love closing ballgames," Bruney said. "There's nothing better than that in my opinion. I felt like New York was a good stepping stone with lots of pressure-filled situations. But to be honest, I had talked to my agent and I said, 'I can't wait to get to the place where I can try and close somewhere.' "But Capps, in all likelihood, was signed to a one-year deal for $3.5 million to be the stopper. Eddie Guardado would like to have his shot as well and will get it with a Spring Training invite. There is some talent coming back from last year, Sean Burnett was a good left handed reliever in 2009 and Tyler Clippard put up a quiet great season as well. If Capps inherits the job and cannot hold it, it will be interesting to see if the Nationals turn to Clippard as the future.
Clippard was great against lefties (.122 BA against in 09) and righties (.234 BA against in 09). Clippard will be entering his second year as a reliever. Clippard's FIP was a high 4.46 and there is a chance that he might regress next year and have a slightly higher ERA. But he could definately be the next man in line for the closer spot as long as 2009 Draft 10th overall pick Drew Storen doesn't make the team out of Spring Training.
Guardado probably is a long shot to make the team. He had a good season in Texas last year but was used sparingly for only just over 38 innings due to injury. Guardado's strikeout rate has gone steadily down over the past few years and gave a few too many home runs (8) for such a limited amount of time. He might be a fantasy "veteran" option should anything go wrong in Spring Training but it's highly doubtful.
