Pretty much exactly what I expected. Probably raises the chance of one of Irvin or Parker getting bumped to the bullpen, unless they go to a 6-man rotation when Gray is ready
Miles Mikolas owns a career 2.98 ERA against the Nationals. Maybe just seeing our uniforms every time he takes the mound will help him tap into that extra gear?
Somebody’s gotta pitch these innings this year. Our pitching corps is just horrific and I’m not a fan of just throwing young arms at batters if they have a <1% chance of developing into something promising. Having a veteran in a locker room of kids is gonna be worth something.
He and Jake Irvin have nearly identical projections: tons of innings, high 4's ERA, 1-ish WAR -- run-of-the-mill 5th starter innings eater. I don't dislike it. I mean someone has to pitch.
It's interesting to me that Foster Griffin has much better projections across all projection systems: around 2 WAR, low 4's to high 3's ERA over similar innings. That could wind up being a bargain signing.
When he was beginning his MLB comeback after his stint in Japan back in 2018 we sat next to his sister behind home plate at a game in WPB. She was… intense! 😉
Gotta love having your sister pulling for you like that! Welcome to the Nats, Miles.
The most shocking thing to me about Ruzzo's last off-season was that he entered last year having not acquired an innings-eater.
It was such a glaring need. But instead we got Williams, Soroka, and Shino, each of whom had some slim upside, but none of whom had a prayer of eating up tons of innings.
It was like a death knell for the team: added pressure on the young starters and on the sketchy bullpen. MM may not pitch well, but he definitely represents reduced pressure on a thin pitching staff.
I think some of that depends on IF defense….if Nunez can hit a little and hold down 2B or SS, I think some of the groundballs that were hits last year will be outs this season….but not at SS…. I don’t see Abrams being better than average to below average in the field.
Nunez might work in a platoon but he can't even hit RHP at AAA so he's gonna have to be the greatest defensive 2B to ever play to be viable, full-time, with a bat that weak.
Gray taking some starts at triple A. DJ Herz and Andrew Alvarez, too. Williams will come. Not bad at all… Who else could be call up from Rochester any time this first half of year if needed? Tyler Stuart? Someone else?
I dunno. A rotation composed of #4-5 starters? Not that good. On the other hand, it sure beats a AAA rotation. And Cavalli might be top-of-rotation grade, if we're lucky.
You could make a reasonable argument that it makes the team worse. They got some good games out of Irvin and Parker. Perhaps, Alvarez could have done the same. Maybe if someone gets hurt in ST, ok, but the biggest error new GM's make is not properly assessing the talent he inherits. I'd rather see one of "Rizzo's boys" than yet another washed-up SP trying to hold on and retiring too late.
I glad that so far, there is only one comment bringing up PC after Mark described Mikolas as an "innings eater." It wouldn't make sense to sign a big name with the looming lockout next year (which is sure wish would not happen). I think there is a lot to be excited about for the future of this team.
I predict Miko becomes a fan favorite after giving up six homers in a couple of innings and after the game saying he pitched well but ran into some "bad luck." Of course, he'll be wearing his "Gulf of America" hat and the rest of his MAGA apparel.
How the guy didn't get DFA'd last year was some minor miracle but if you're paying him 18m to pitch and the team sucks anyway, as the Nats well know, might as well keep him around so you don't have to pay a rookie a pro-rated 780K. Swapping out the Cardinals top defense for the Nats league-worst should help matters too. 2026 ERA: 5.43 and the worst NL starting pitcher who looks better because the "innings-eater" didn't pitch enough to qualify for league-leaders for another year.
Well, you can never have enough starting pitchers…..so, if he’s average, he eats up some innings and if he’s washed up, you have some reserves like Irvin, Parker and Alvarez who may - or may not - perform at the same or better level.
Not sure how he is now, but I’ll never forget his elite duel against Anibal in the 2019 NLCS. And imitating Juan’s shuffle on the mound lmao.
Pretty much exactly what I expected. Probably raises the chance of one of Irvin or Parker getting bumped to the bullpen, unless they go to a 6-man rotation when Gray is ready
Super - veteran leader.
I like a good vet who sucks at his job and doesn't hold himself accountable.
We’ll see Fredo. We’re all frustrated but at this moment this move is better than nothing
Daniel, we’ll see about that. Another year older and on what is likely to be a much worse defense than the ‘25 Cards.
I am liking: all the Mark Z writing in my inbox. I am not liking: this signing (much)
Ditto!
Miles Mikolas owns a career 2.98 ERA against the Nationals. Maybe just seeing our uniforms every time he takes the mound will help him tap into that extra gear?
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Somebody’s gotta pitch these innings this year. Our pitching corps is just horrific and I’m not a fan of just throwing young arms at batters if they have a <1% chance of developing into something promising. Having a veteran in a locker room of kids is gonna be worth something.
He and Jake Irvin have nearly identical projections: tons of innings, high 4's ERA, 1-ish WAR -- run-of-the-mill 5th starter innings eater. I don't dislike it. I mean someone has to pitch.
It's interesting to me that Foster Griffin has much better projections across all projection systems: around 2 WAR, low 4's to high 3's ERA over similar innings. That could wind up being a bargain signing.
When he was beginning his MLB comeback after his stint in Japan back in 2018 we sat next to his sister behind home plate at a game in WPB. She was… intense! 😉
Gotta love having your sister pulling for you like that! Welcome to the Nats, Miles.
The most shocking thing to me about Ruzzo's last off-season was that he entered last year having not acquired an innings-eater.
It was such a glaring need. But instead we got Williams, Soroka, and Shino, each of whom had some slim upside, but none of whom had a prayer of eating up tons of innings.
It was like a death knell for the team: added pressure on the young starters and on the sketchy bullpen. MM may not pitch well, but he definitely represents reduced pressure on a thin pitching staff.
If nothing else, the guy seems durable.
Pat Corbin deja-vu
Corbin was a 6-7 ERA guy
Pat’s postWS tenure closed with a 5.6 ERA. That’s probably a pretty reasonable expectation for Mik this year.
I think some of that depends on IF defense….if Nunez can hit a little and hold down 2B or SS, I think some of the groundballs that were hits last year will be outs this season….but not at SS…. I don’t see Abrams being better than average to below average in the field.
Nunez might work in a platoon but he can't even hit RHP at AAA so he's gonna have to be the greatest defensive 2B to ever play to be viable, full-time, with a bat that weak.
So, Griffin, Irvin, Cavalli, Mikolas, Lord/Parker is our rotation? Not that bad!!
Gray taking some starts at triple A. DJ Herz and Andrew Alvarez, too. Williams will come. Not bad at all… Who else could be call up from Rochester any time this first half of year if needed? Tyler Stuart? Someone else?
I think Stuart had Tommy John surgery in August. I just hope Mikolas is an improvement over Corbin in ‘24 and Williams and Parker in ‘25.
I dunno. A rotation composed of #4-5 starters? Not that good. On the other hand, it sure beats a AAA rotation. And Cavalli might be top-of-rotation grade, if we're lucky.
You can always count on the Nats to take a one-year flyer on a washed up player or pitcher they can flip at the deadline for prospects. 🤦♂️
What’s the point? There’s a bunch of starters they could go to albeit inexperienced but it’s not like they are trying to be competitive.
This is just "someone has to pitch those innings" signing. It doesn't make the team better, though.
You could make a reasonable argument that it makes the team worse. They got some good games out of Irvin and Parker. Perhaps, Alvarez could have done the same. Maybe if someone gets hurt in ST, ok, but the biggest error new GM's make is not properly assessing the talent he inherits. I'd rather see one of "Rizzo's boys" than yet another washed-up SP trying to hold on and retiring too late.
I glad that so far, there is only one comment bringing up PC after Mark described Mikolas as an "innings eater." It wouldn't make sense to sign a big name with the looming lockout next year (which is sure wish would not happen). I think there is a lot to be excited about for the future of this team.
I predict Miko becomes a fan favorite after giving up six homers in a couple of innings and after the game saying he pitched well but ran into some "bad luck." Of course, he'll be wearing his "Gulf of America" hat and the rest of his MAGA apparel.
How the guy didn't get DFA'd last year was some minor miracle but if you're paying him 18m to pitch and the team sucks anyway, as the Nats well know, might as well keep him around so you don't have to pay a rookie a pro-rated 780K. Swapping out the Cardinals top defense for the Nats league-worst should help matters too. 2026 ERA: 5.43 and the worst NL starting pitcher who looks better because the "innings-eater" didn't pitch enough to qualify for league-leaders for another year.
Well, you can never have enough starting pitchers…..so, if he’s average, he eats up some innings and if he’s washed up, you have some reserves like Irvin, Parker and Alvarez who may - or may not - perform at the same or better level.