Bullpen Candidates

The Nationals have an interesting looking bullpen and it could be one of the more successful areas of the club this season, as long as they are not overworked and can stay healthy. The only real problem with the pen, and the rest of the team for that matter, is a lack of depth.

1. Chad Cordero, RHP, 23
2004: 7-3 (win-loss) 69 (games) 82 2/3 (innings) 68 (hits allowed) 43-83 (BB-SO) 2.94 (ERA)

Cordero is the favorite to be the closer in 2005, a role which he filled with the Expos for part of 2004. The Nationals should be careful, however, as few young closers go on to have long, successful careers; most burnout after a few years. That said, Cordero possesses everything he needs to be a solid closer: a good fastball, a breaking ball and OK control.

2. Luis Ayala, RHP, 27
2004: 6-12 (win-loss) 81 (games) 90 2/3 (innings) 92 (hits allowed) 15-63 (BB-SO) 2.69 (ERA)

Ayala is one of those pitchers who isn’t a superstar but he makes teams better because he is on them. He provides innings out of the pen, doesn’t walk anyone and doesn’t cost much. Ayala also gets both left-handed and right-handed batters out.

3. Joey Eischen, LHP, 35
2004: 0 -1 (win-loss) 21 (games) 18 1/3 (innings) 16 (hits allowed) 8-17 (BB-SO) 3.93 (ERA)

Eischen resurrected his career three years ago with the Expos and hasn’t looked back, although he struggled with injuries last season. He should be healthy and continue to get lefties out.

4. Antonio Osuna, RHP, 32
2004: 2-1 (win-loss) 31 (games) 36 2/3 (innings) 32 (hits allowed) 11-36 (BB-SO) 2.45 (ERA)

Osuna was an excellent veteran pick up by the Nationals. He has put up solid numbers out of the pen for the past decade, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Osuna signed a lesser contract than he is likely worth mainly because he had injury problems in 2004, He should be healthy to start the season. Osuna could close if Cordero falters.

5. T.J. Tucker, RHP, 26
2004: 4-2 (win-loss) 54 (games) 67 2/3 (innings) 73 (hits allowed) 17-44 (BB-SO) 3.72 (ERA)

Tucker has bounced back and forth between the major leagues and the minors for the past few seasons and he put together a solid season out of the bullpen in 2004. Tucker has always battled problems with his weight and could probably benefit from having a better workout regiment, which would likely improve his stamina. He does not strikeout a ton of guys, but he doesn’t walk many anymore, either. Tucker is a solid third or fourth guy out of the pen and provides depth.

6. Gary Majewski, RHP, 25
2004: 0-1 (win-loss) 16 (games) 21 (innings) 28 (hits allowed) 5-12 (BB-SO) 3.86 (ERA)

Majewski has a good shot at starting the season in the Nationals pen, after pitching very well at the end of 2004 after coming over from the White Sox. However, he still has minor league options left and could get squeezed by Patterson, Vargas, Rauch or Day, all of whom lack options.

7. Joe Horgan, LHP, 27
2004: 4-1 (win-loss) 47 (games) 40 (innings) 35 (hits allowed) 22-30 (BB-SO) 3.15 (ERA)

Horgan has a good chance at being the second lefty out of the pen and the Nationals do not have a lot of left-handed pitchers at their disposal. Horgan pitched very well after initially struggling and posting a 6.75 ERA in his first 15 games.

*Both RHP Francis Beltran and LHP Chris Bentz (a non-roster spring invitee) have an outside shot at breaking camp with the big club, although they could lose out in the great ‘minor league options shuffle.’ Losers in the battle for the fifth spot in the rotation will likely trickle down into the bullpen.