The Washington Nationals were among the more active MLB teams during this offseason. Time will tell if the added depth to the rotation and a pair of new catchers will help improve their 82-80 record in 2018.
With spring training just getting underway, time to refresh your memory on the new faces around the Nats.
The Nationals made the splash of the offseason signing the left-handed starter to a
six-year, $140 million deal in December. Corbin, 29, went 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA in 2018 with the Diamondbacks, while striking out 256 batters.
On the heels of the Corbin signing, the Nats inked Anibal Sanchez to a
two-year, $19 million deal in December. The soon-to-be 35-year-old Sanchez had a solid 2018, with a 2.83 ERA in 24 starts with the Braves last season.
Early in November the Nationals brought back 35-year-old catcher Kurt Suzuki on a
two-year, $10 million deal. Suzuki appeared in 122 games for Washington during 2012 and 2013 before leaving for stints in Minnesota and Atlanta. He's coming of back-to-back years of double digit home runs for the first time since 2011.
In the second backstop move of the offseason, Washington dealt Daniel Johnson and Jefry Rodriguez for Yan Gomes and Andruw Monasterio. Gomes, a native of Brazil, rebounded after three down years offensively, posting a .266/.313/.499 slashline in 112 games and grabbed an All Star spot.
In what has to be the first
trade involving two pitchers named Tanner, the Reds sent Tanner Rainey to Washington in exchange for Tanner Roark. Rainey, 25, went 7-2 with a 2.65 ERA over 51 innings for Cincinnati's Triple-A club in 2018.
After sending him away in a trade late in 2018, the Nationals brought back first baseman Matt Adams. (Does this count as a new face? He was gone and now he's back, so yes.) Adams signed a one-year, $4 million deal after batting .257 with 18 HRs and 48 RBIs
in 94 games in D.C. in 2018.
After missing the 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery in 2017, the Nats were able to
sign Trevor Rosenthal to a one-year, $7 million contract. Before surgery, he was an elite closer for the Cardinals, compiling 121 saves with a 3.01 ERA from 2013-2017.
Before the World Series, before free agency, before the Bryce Harper saga even began, the Nationals sent international bonus money to the Marlins for 28-year-old relief pitcher Kyle Barraclough. In a down year, he posted a 4.20 ERA in 61 games for Miami after pitching to a 3.00 ERA or lower in each of his first three seasons.
