Starting over

The Nats need another starter.   Not Edwin Jackson.  Not (yet) Eric Fedde.  A real fifth starter.  With this in mind, I looked up the FA starting pitchers and have a few knee jerk reactions on whether they'd fit with the Curly W.

Jake Arrieta (32)  Will command too much

Christian Bergman (30)  Who? Journeyman. Not good enough.

Mike Bolsinger (30)  He's a Dodger.  He might be one of the faceless pitchers that relieve the starters nightly but I can't prove that he is. 

Clay Buchholz (33)  I thought he was dead.  Maybe a spring training invite flyer

Trevor Cahill (30)  This guy was a pretty good D Back and a reasonably good Cub reliever last year, I believe.   I'd try him, but I don't know if I'd use him as a starter or reliever.

Andrew Cashner (31). He was traded for Anthony Rizzo.  He's not consistent but if he's available I think he'd be usable.

Jhoulys Chacin (30)  Didn't Ian Desmond hit him in the head once?  He's bounced around and doesn't even start anymore.

Tyler Chatwood (28)  Rockies pitcher. He's been good at times, not so much at other times. Was this the Coors Field effect?   Maybe.   Was it the pitcher's own inconsistency?  Maybe.  Should the Nats take a chance on him?  Maybe.

Jesse Chavez (34).. Journeyman

Alex Cobb (30)  This is the best guy on the list other than the 'stars'. I'd like him but I bet someone gives him a contract worthy of a number one.

Josh Collmenter (32)  He's never maintained any consistency.  But he's had a few moments.  Might be this year's "Lightning in a Bottle" but I wouldn't risk it.

Bartolo Colon (45)  Please retire.  The "Big Sexy" bit isn't funny.

Johnny Cueto (32) — Not going to accept a back of the rotation salary

Yu Darvish (31) Did you see Game 3?

R.A. Dickey (43)  Aside from the fact I hate watching him pitch, its not that bad an idea.

Nathan Eovaldi (28) — $2MM club option.  We already have an injured fifth starter. Don't need another.

Scott Feldman (35).  The Orioles think he's better than Jake Arrieta. I don't.

Doug Fister (34).  I  think Doug was good as a Nat and seemed to be reasonably good as a Red Sock. But Mike Rizzo generally doesn't chew his cabbage twice.  And there must be a reason he's bounced around so much.

Yovani Gallardo (32) — Has a club option but if he's free, he's not for me.

Jaime Garcia (31)   Maybe.  Teams looking for pitching more than the Nats might pay more, though
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Matt Garza (34)   Was but not is.  Has been.  No thanks.

Dillon Gee (32) I always thought he was reasonably good as a Met.  I'd give him a shot either as a starter or in the bullpen.

Miguel Gonzalez (34)  Too Oriole.

Jeremy Hellickson (31)  Bad Oriole.

Derek Holland (31)  Pitches like an Oriole.

David Holmberg (26)  Wasn't he a frequent guest of Mike Douglas in the '70s?  A producer on Seinfeld?  No?  Well, he was traded FOR Edwin Jackson.  Think about THAT.

Drew Hutchison (27)  I would definitely sign this guy and give him a chance.  I was always impressed with him when he was a Blue Jay.  I think he could be 'fixed'.

Ubaldo Jimenez (34)  Not good enough for the Orioles.  So obviously not good enough for the Nats.

John Lackey (39)   Maybe if there's an old timers game.

Francisco Liriano (34)  Might be a cheap option but he hasn't been particularly good as an Astro.

Jeff Locke (30)  A face in the crowd.  I think he was a bad Pirate.

Jordan Lyles (27).  Rockies pitchers might do well out of Coors Field

Lance Lynn (31)  Already has a big moment at Nats Park.  He'd be perfect but probably will get more to be a Top 2 starter elsewhere.

Miles Mikolas (29)  he pitches in Japan and is nicknamed "Lizard King".  That's a no.

Wade Miley (31) — $12MM club option with a $500K buyout.  Too Oriole.

Mike Minor (30) — $10MM mutual option with a $1.25MM buyout.  I remember this guy being fairly good for the Braves.  He's apparently oft injured and a Royals reliever, so probably not an option.

Ricky Nolasco (35) — $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout.  Was so bad the Twins gave the Angels Alex Meyer just to take him. 

Wily Peralta (29)  A pretty good Brewer.  Probably someone desperate for pitching will overpay.  I'm not sure why the Brewers haven't re-upped him.

Martin Perez (27) — $6MM club option with a $2.45MM buyout

Michael Pineda (29).  Injury risk.

Tyson Ross -- Wasn't good with the Rangers but maybe on a non-roster contract.

CC Sabathia (37) -- Wants to be a Yankee

Anibal Sanchez (34)  Can back up John Lackey in the Old Timers Game.

Hector Santiago (30)  not good enough for the Twins?

Masahiro Tanaka (29) — Can opt out of the remaining three years, $67MM on his contract. A TJ injury waiting to happen. 

Chris Tillman (30).  Might be good for a year contract to try to reclaim his career. And if he was good, it would really annoy Peter Angelos.  I'd do it.

Josh Tomlin (33) — $3MM club option with a $750K buyout

Jacob Turner (27).  We've seen him once.  It was enough. 

Jason Vargas (35)  Kind of guy the Orioles would sign in March

Hideaki Wakui (32). A Japanese pitcher I've never seen.  32 year old rookie isn't a good idea though
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Asher Wojciechowski (29)  An Astros pitcher I'm not familiar with. I see a lot of them in Spring Training, and I have no memory of this guy, so I don't know what is wrong this gentleman.

Chris Young (39)  He couldn't get out of Syracuse before, why would he now?


There are a few pitchers I'd like to see come to DC as a fifth starter that are available and realistic possibilities. Alex Cobb, Jamie Garcia, Chris Tillman, Drew Hutchinson ,Lance Lynn, Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner, Jordan Miles, Tyler Chatwood,and Dillon Gee.  Rizzo won't bring in all of them.  If he gets one of the top people on this list like Cobb or Lynn, he only needs one of them.