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Now-former Washington Nationals’ skipper Dusty Baker referred to reliever Matt Albers as the “find of the year” in baseball last season after the veteran right-hander signed on in D.C. in late January, tested the market when he was released in late March, and returned to the organization a few days later before getting the call to the big leagues in early April.
Albers, 35, posted a 1.62 ERA, a 3.40 FIP, 17 walks (2.30 BB/9) and 63 Ks (9.30 K/9) in 63 games and 61 IP for the Nationals last season, finishing the 2017 campaign ranked 2nd among NL relievers in WHIP (0.85), with the second-lowest BAA (.165) and third-lowest ERA (1.62, behind only Phillies/Rockies’ righty Patt Neshek, 1.59, and the LA Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen, 1.32).
Albers, who turned 35 on Jan. 20, had a 1.62 ERA in 61 innings for the #Nationals last season, striking out 63, walking 17. He had joined Nats on minor-league deal, got released at end of spring training, then signed another minor-league deal with WAS, returning to majors 4/9.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 29, 2018
This afternoon, Albers reportedly signed a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, cashing in on his big season in Washington with the first multi-year deal of his career.
Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo talked last September about the 12-year veteran’s contributions to what was a weak bullpen at the start of the season before the Nationals revamped things with moves before and at the non-waiver deadline.
“[Albers] not only made the club, he cemented the bullpen when we needed him most,” Rizzo told 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s The Sports Junkies.
Mike Rizzo talks bullpen/rotation depth + more at WinterFest:
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LINK: GM Mike Rizzo on the Nats’ bullpen and rotation depth + more...
“And then when we got some reinforcements, has continued to be a key contributor, getting key outs at key times, and [he] is gonna be a big part of us going into the playoffs.”
In the first postseason appearances of his career, Albers tossed 2 1⁄3 scoreless innings in the Nationals’ NLDS matchup with the Chicago Cubs.
According to reports this afternoon, the veteran reliever signed a 2-year/$5M contract with the Brewers.
Should the Nationals have brought him back? Would you have given the 35-year-old a two-year deal?
Did the Nats, who are rumored to still be interested in adding arms to the mix in the bullpen, miss an opportunity to bring a reliable arm back into the bullpen?
#Brewers have agreement with reliever Matt Albers as @Ken_Rosenthal reported first. Per source it's a two-year, $5 million deal. Deal includes up to $1 million in performance bonuses per year based on games.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 29, 2018