The Washington Nationals are down another arm after left-hander Matt Krook chose free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester.
Krook had been designated for assignment on July 12 to clear a roster spot for top prospect Abimelec Ortiz’s MLB debut. The team announced that he elected to become a free agent instead of sticking in the organization.
Washington had claimed Krook off waivers from the Athletics on July 4, even though he was carrying a 14.73 ERA in five appearances with Oakland. That number proved to be a warning sign. In three outings for the Nationals, Krook allowed two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.
His brief run in Washington also fit a larger problem for the club’s bullpen. Manager Blake Butera has leaned heavily on split-specific matchups, and that approach backfired against the New York Yankees on July 10.
Butera brought in Krook to work through a lefty-heavy stretch of the lineup instead of leaving closer Clayton Beeter in for a ninth-inning save. Krook gave up two earned runs, took the blown save, and was charged with the loss.
Now 31, the former fourth-round pick will look for another landing spot after stops with the Athletics and Nationals this season.
For Washington, the bigger picture is familiar. Even after the first half of the season, the bullpen remains a place where the club keeps trying to patch holes.
Relief help is always in demand around the league, and the best arms rarely hit waivers or come cheap in trade talks. That means the Nationals are likely to keep making the same kinds of moves they made before the break, even after getting burned by them.
They could still add a reliever or two before the deadline if they remain in the playoff hunt, but arms like Krook are probably going to keep cycling through the roster.
In Other News...
Red Sox Fans Should Think Twice About Francisco Lindor At Deadline
The Red Sox are still sorting through a deadline shopping list that points to catcher, designated hitter and shortstop, but Francisco Lindor is the kind of name that can tempt a front office into moving faster than it should. He has the pedigree, the star power and the kind of long-term contract that usually comes with a franchise centerpiece, yet this season has been uneven enough to make any team pause before paying a premium for the Mets shortstop.
Boston would be better served looking at alternatives who fit the roster and the park more cleanly, with Jeremy Pea standing out as the more practical shortstop target. And if the Red Sox are dreaming even bigger, James Wood is the type of bat that could change a lineup, though his availability depends entirely on where Washington sits in the NL Wild Card race as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Just Locked In A First Round Win Fans Will Love
The Nationals got their first-round business done with Chris Hacopian, locking up the 11th overall pick on a $5.7 million deal that comes in below the slot value attached to that selection. Hacopian brings a polished bat to the organization after starring at Texas A&M and Maryland, and the signing gives Washington a little more flexibility as it works through the rest of its draft class.
Hacopians deal also fits neatly with the clubs broader plan, since the savings can be used to help get other picks signed and keep the class intact. The team even leaned into the personal side of it by posting a signing video at Nationals Park, a nice touch for a player who grew up in the area and has long been a fan of the franchise. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Suddenly Face A Difficult Dylan Crews Decision
Dylan Crews entered the All-Star break with the kind of uneven stretch that can sharpen the spotlight on a young player in Washington. The former top prospect has shown why the Nationals were so excited about him, but his early major league production has not matched the promise he built in the minors, and the recent series before the break only added to the concern with both his bat and his play in the field.
For a club still trying to balance development with the pressure to win more games, Crews is suddenly at the center of a familiar question: how long do you stay patient, and how much do you ask from a player still learning on the job? The Nationals have made clear they want better communication between the front office, coaching staff and players as they guide that process, and Crews next stretch will go a long way toward showing whether that approach can steady a talented but inconsistent young cornerstone. [Read more 🡒]