On the 2021 MLB commerce deadline, Mike Rizzo made the choice to blow it up. After a Kyle Schwarber led run in June, a mid July stoop despatched the Nationals tumbling out of the playoff image. After almost a decade of rivalry, Mike Rizzo determined to in his phrases ‘retool’.
The most important commerce of the deadline was when the Nats despatched stars Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers for a monster prospect haul. The Nats obtained a pair of high 50 prospects in Josiah Grey and Keibert Ruiz. In addition they obtained a pair of fascinating fliers in Gerardo Carillo and Donavan Casey. Nonetheless, historical past has not been sort to this deal.
In my view, that is among the many worst strikes Mike Rizzo has made as Nationals GM. One of many points with the transfer was Mike Rizzo misevaluating the timeline. He repeatedly known as the Nationals technique a retool when it was apparent a full rebuild was coming. You would see this pondering within the bundle. The entire gamers the Nationals obtained had been seen as “excessive ground” guys who had been already within the higher minors.
If Rizzo knew this was a full rebuild, he may have swung for a possible star that was nearer to the massive leagues. He did simply that in 2022 when he obtained James Wooden and Jarlin Susana from the Padres. Soto was such a great asset that he additionally obtained large league prepared expertise as effectively. Whereas half a yr of Max Scherzer and 1.5 years of Trea Turner received’t fetch you as a lot, it’s stunning how a lot better the Padres bundle has turned out.
To the bundle itself, the 2 “fascinating fliers” flamed out, which is a danger you run on this enterprise. In any case, when was the final time you heard about Aldo Ramirez, the pitcher the Nats obtained for Kyle Schwarber. Nonetheless, the 2 large items had been imagined to grow to be cornerstones for the Nats. Neither one has been capable of absolutely set up themselves as a productive MLB participant.
First, lets speak about Josiah Grey. The suitable hander is an enormous character who’s a simple man to root for. Nonetheless, he has been very hit and miss on the mound. In 72 begins with the Nats, he has a 4.80 ERA with an alarming 5.50 FIP. In 2023, he was an all-star and put up an ERA under 4, however that was a little bit of fools gold. His FIP was 4.93, exhibiting that he was very fortunate to have these stable floor degree stats. The suitable hander has merely been too stroll and residential run inclined.
2024 ought to have been an opportunity to construct off his 2023, however he obtained harm after two begins. Ultimately he needed to bear Tommy John Surgical procedure. He is not going to be again till late this season. Grey will return to a crowded rotation the place quite a few guys have handed him within the pecking order. Even discovering a manner again into the rotation might be robust for the 27 yr outdated who ought to simply be coming into his prime.
Whereas Grey is somebody that’s simple to root for, Keibert Ruiz is perhaps one of many extra irritating gamers in Nationals historical past. He was the largest title coming again to the Nats within the deal. If it weren’t for Will Smith, who was establishing himself as a high younger catcher in baseball, Ruiz would have been the Dodgers catcher of the long run. Nonetheless, resulting from Smith’s emergence, the highest catching prospect was now expendable.
In his time with the Nats, Ruiz has hit .249 with a .677 OPS. He’s imagined to be an offense first catcher. His protection has been constantly brutal in his time in DC. That’s the reason he has been a sub substitute degree participant in every of the final two seasons.
These seasons had been the primary two in an 8 yr contract extension he signed with the Nats after a considerably promising 2022 season. Whereas Ruiz actually has expertise as a hitter, he hasn’t been capable of put it collectively. This is because of a horrid strategy. He chases out of the zone manner an excessive amount of and it usually looks as if his solely plan is to not strikeout. For this reason he’s a under common hitter regardless of hardly putting out. Ruiz is popping 27 in July, so he isn’t fairly a teenager anymore
The 2 guys that had been the principle items of the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner commerce at the moment are two guys the Nats have to improve. There’s a motive the Nats drafted two catchers within the first three rounds. That’s not the place you need to be simply 3.5 years faraway from the commerce.
It appears even worse while you evaluate it to the opposite very long time NL contender that blew it up on the deadline, the Chicago Cubs. Regardless of having lesser belongings, nearly all of whom had been leases, the Cubs obtained extra bang for his or her buck. Pete Crow-Armstrong, who they obtained in trade for Javier Baez, appears like he will likely be extra precious than anybody within the Turner bundle. He was a far out prospect, who was the kind excessive danger, excessive reward swing Mike Rizzo ought to have taken. As a substitute, he fooled himself into believing a “retool” was all that was wanted.
This isn’t to say that Mike Rizzo is a nasty GM as a result of he isn’t, however he tousled on this one. He misevaluated the state of affairs and it led to a nasty commerce, one thing that may be a rarity for him. Rizzo is among the finest deal swingers in baseball, however you possibly can’t win all of them. Nonetheless, lacking on a deal this vital to the way forward for the franchise is a tricky capsule to swallow. I might love for this text to be completely confirmed flawed this season, however hope is fading.
