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Washington’s decision to release left-hander Sammy Solis (after avoiding arbitration and signing him to a 1-year/$850,000 deal this winter) left them with two left-handed relievers on their 40-Man roster: closer Sean Doolittle, and left-hander Matt Grace, and one other left-hander in camp this Spring, veteran Vidal Nuño, who has impressed the Nationals’ second-year manager Davey Martinez.
“What I like about [Nuño] is that he’s got a little funk to him,” Martinez told reporters this past weekend, as quoted by Washington Post writer Jesse Dougherty.
“His ball, all of a sudden, comes out of nowhere and it is on top of you. And for a left-handed hitter, facing a lefty, that’s pretty tough.”
Martinez was talking up Nuño after he was asked a question about the Nationals potentially adding another left-hander to the bullpen mix as they prepare for the start of the season.
The WaPost beat reporter mentioned in the article that the Nationals had, “recently inquired about veteran lefty reliever Tony Sipp, according to a person with knowledge of Sipp’s free agency,” before adding that, “... it wasn’t with any pressing interest.”
This morning, however, according to multiple reports, the Nationals have signed Sipp to a 1-year/$1M major league deal, with a mutual option for 2020.
Sipp is a 35-year-old, 10-year veteran coming off an ‘18 campaign in Houston which saw him put up a 1.86 ERA, a 2.41 FIP, 13 walks (3.03 BB/9), 42 Ks (9.78 K/9), and a .197/.272/.311 line against in 38 2⁄3 IP, with a .188/.263/.294 line against left-handers and a .206/.280/.328 line against vs right-handed hitters for the Astros.
So with the three left-handers (Doolittle, Grace, and Sipp), right-handers Trevor Rosenthal, Kyle Barraclough, and Justin Miller (who is going to make the bullpen if healthy according to Martinez), and ... Wander Suero(?), is the Nationals’ Opening Day bullpen pretty much set?
Will it be a different mix at first if Sipp needs extra time to get ready for the regular season?
And does this end all the speculation about the Nationals as a potential suitor for free agent reliever Craig Kimbrel?
Tony Sipp in agreement with Nats
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 13, 2019
Terms: Sipp's deal is for one year with a mutual option for 2020.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) March 13, 2019
Nationals are signing 35-year-old lefty reliever Tony Sipp, per a source familiar with the deal. (@JonHeyman was first with the agreement)
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 13, 2019