The Braves certainly weren’t counting on Rafael Soriano accepting arbitration when they signed Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito last week, but now they have three expensive relievers on a roster already likely overbudget and still short a first baseman and an outfielder.
It certainly could be worse. Soriano is one of the game’s most dominant relievers, and while he would have been a poor gamble on a three-year, $24 million contract, he should be an asset at around $8 million for 2009. That’d be a reasonable figure for a settlement if the two sides can avoid a hearing. Soriano made $6.5 million while collecting 27 saves last season. He had a 2.97 ERA and a 102/27 K/BB ratio in a career-high 75 2/3 innings.
Soriano, Carl Pavano and Rafael Betancourt were the only three free agents to accept arbitration prior to Monday night’s deadline. They’re now signed players and must be placed back on 40-man rosters. Like other free agents signed to major league deals, they have full no-trade clauses until June 15. However, unlike other free agents, they won’t get guaranteed contracts, allowing teams to cut them in spring training if they can justify it for performance reasons.
That’s a big reason why Soriano’s choice was hard to believe. The Twins and Rockies, respectively, are happy to have Pavano and Betancourt back. The Braves, though, simply wanted the draft picks Soriano’s departure would bring them. They tried to dissuade him from accepting arbitration by telling him he’d be a sixth-inning guy. Since they weren’t counting on spending $20 million on relievers next season, they could well release him in spring training if he gives them any reason to do so.
Ideally, it won’t come to that. Soriano is an excellent pitcher, and he’d be a better choice than Takashi Saito to work the eighth if the Braves can create the financial flexibility to retain him. Also, there’s the chance that a trade could be worked out, with Soriano’s permission. Now that they won’t have to give up a draft pick for him, teams like the Tigers, Rays, Orioles and Astros could be more interested in his services. The Astros, in particular, could step up their pursuit since they dodged a bullet with Jose Valverde’s decision to decline arbitration tonight.
Nationals blow 6-run lead, rebound to beat Phillies 8-7
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WASHINGTON (AP) Lane Thomas singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Washington Nationals sent the Philadelphia Phillies to their fifth straight loss, winning 8-7 after blowing a six-run lead.
The defending NL champion Phillies have just five victories in their last 18 games and are tied with the Nationals at the bottom of the NL East at 25-32.
“We’ve got to overcome it,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We’ve got to play better, get consistent in all phases and keep moving forward.”
Alex Call drew a two-out walk against Connor Brogdon (2-1) in the eighth, stole second on a low pitch that catcher JT Realmuto couldn’t make a throw on and scored on Thomas’ single to right center.
“The way Lane’s swinging the bat, if you can get on second base, we can win the game,” Call said. “I look over and the ball’s in the dirt, he doesn’t catch it. Now I’m saying: ‘All right, Lane. Come on!’”
Kyle Finnegan (3-2) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the victory, stranding the tying run on second in the ninth.
Nick Castellanos homered twice, singled, doubled and drove in five runs for Philadelphia, which had scored just three runs in its past three games.
“There’s definitely a lot of positives as a group,” Castellanos said. “Showing some fight. It would have been really, really easy to lay down and allow the way the game started to be the way that it finished.”
Down 7-1 after four innings, Philadelphia tied it at 7 in the eighth. Brandon Marsh worked a nine-pitch walk against Mason Thompson leading off, and Drew Ellis singled with one out. Finnegan came on to face Kyle Schwarber, who hit a ground ball up the middle. Shortstop CJ Abrams fielded it behind it behind second base, touched second for one out, but threw wildly to first and Marsh came home with the tying run.
Castellanos’s second homer, a two-run shot to center in the sixth, pulled the Phillies to 7-3 and Marsh added an RBI single in the inning.
In the seventh, Schwarber doubled with one out and Bryson Scott reached on an infield single. Hunter Harvey came on and walked Bryce Harper to load the bases. Castellanos singled to center scoring two runs to make it 7-6.
Luis Garcia homered and Jeimer Candelario doubled twice and drove in three runs for the Nationals, who have won seven of 12.
Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler, coming off eight shutout innings against Atlanta, allowed seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.
“This one’s on me really,” Wheeler said. “Guys battled back. Just couldn’t finish it out. We know who we have in this room and what we’ve got to do.”
Josiah Gray gave up four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings for Washington.
Candelario doubled just beyond the reach of left fielder Schwarber to drive in the first of Washington’s two runs in the first.
In the second, Abrams hit a one-out drive to deep center that Marsh misplayed into a double. With two outs and two on, Candelario doubled off the wall in right center to make it 5-0.
Garcia ended Wheeler’s night with a solo homer in the fourth.
“When you come out the way we did, you’ve got to tack on,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “It didn’t happen tonight, but we got one more than the other guys.”
CANDY MAN
Candelario is 9 for 26 (.346) with four doubles, a home run, nine RBIs, five walks, and seven runs scored in his last seven games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: Thomson said RHP Taijuan Walker played catch Friday and there are “no worries about his next start.” In a four-inning outing against the Mets on Thursday, Walker’s sinker velocity averaged 90.6 mph, down from 92.7 mph for the season. His fastball, splitter and curveball velocity also dropped.
Nationals: OF Victor Robles (back spasms) took batting practice on the field for the first time since going on the injured list. … LHP Sean Doolittle (elbow) gave up a run on two hits and struck out two batters in 2/3 of an inning working his second straight night for Class A Fredericksburg.
UP NEXT
Phillies: LHP Matt Strahm (4-3, 3.20) will start a bullpen game on Saturday.
Nationals: LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-3, 3.57) went seven innings and struck out a career-high 11 batters in his previous outing – a no decision against the Royals.
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