Are recent veteran additions enough for Nats bullpen?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Two weeks into the new year, the Nationals had only one relief pitcher on their roster with any kind of substantial big league experience: Derek Law. Clearly, Mike Rizzo still had plenty of work to do before the start of spring training.

The process remains slow, but the Nats have managed to add three experienced relievers over the last month. They signed right-hander Jorge López to a $3 million deal on Jan. 11. They signed left-hander Colin Poche to a minor league deal on Feb. 7. And then on Wednesday they signed right-hander Lucas Sims to a $3 million deal.

At long last, a bullpen that was woefully short on proven arms now has four veterans to take some pressure off the organization’s young relievers.

“These guys have done it. They understand it. They’ve done it at the major league level,” manager Davey Martinez said. “They can teach our younger guys what it takes to go out there and compete, to be put in these high-leverage situations. Talk to them about controlling your heartbeat, always being ready, what their routine is like in every situation. I’m excited about the guys we brought in, the veteran guys, because they’re willing to do that.”

All three newly signed veterans have said the right things about their individual responsibilities and their desire to mentor younger teammates who haven’t been through the meat grinder before.

“It’s really important for us, for me being that veteran guy and that leader, teaching them how long it takes to maintain not only 162 games, but you always need to have the mindset for October,” López said. “It’s an opportunity to teach them we have ups and downs in this game, and the most important thing is to just stay locked into the game.”

This actually isn’t a new role for López. The 32-year-old found himself in a similar situation in 2022 with a rebuilding Orioles club. He was thrust into the closer’s role, and wound up with 19 saves and a 1.68 ERA. Among his bullpen mates were eventual stalwarts Félix Bautista, Cionel Pérez, Bryan Baker and Keegan Akin, all younger and less experienced at the time.

López would get traded to the Twins that summer, and he has spent the ensuing two-plus years bouncing around the league, from Minnesota to Miami back to Baltimore to New York (the Mets) to Chicago (the Cubs). Now he’s in Washington, where he may be asked to close once again given the lack of proven options elsewhere on the current roster.

“It’s an opportunity,” he said. “We always want that spot. Guys are looking for that spot. I’m here for it. I’ve got the experience. I’ve got the stuff. Facing those guys is not easy, but we work for it.”

If López isn’t used in the ninth inning, Martinez has suggested he could turn to Jose A. Ferrer, the 24-year-old left-hander with an upper-90s fastball and plenty of promise but precious little actual experience. Ferrer has pitched in 70 total major league games over two seasons; he has yet to complete a full, 162-game season on the roster.

The Nationals, though, clearly think the world of him. They dealt fellow lefty Robert Garcia to the Rangers in December for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. They designated lefty Joe La Sorsa for assignment in January. And they previous cut ties with Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, Dylan Floro, Tanner Rainey and Jordan Weems, leaving Ferrer one of the few remaining bullpen pieces from last season.

“I saw the moves they made last year, and I knew right then and there I was going to have to prepare even more in the offseason to prepare for this season going forward,” he said, via interpreter Kenny Diaz. “I know they’re going to rely on me to be an even bigger part.”

Ferrer has one big league save on his resume. He’s faced only 49 plate appearances in situations Baseball-Reference considers “high leverage,” though he’s done well in those spots (opponents have a .133/.184/.178 slash line).

If he was handed the ball for the ninth inning, how comfortable would he be?

“It’s a big responsibility, and it’s an honor to have that kind of consideration from Davey,” he said. “It means a lot. It’s the hardest three outs, to close a game. And it’s one thing for him to even have that trust in me, it means a lot to me.”

All of this, of course, could be moot if the Nationals make one more significant addition this spring and acquire a new closer. David Robertson remains available, as do Finnegan, Hector Neris, Craig Kimbrel, Jalen Beeks and others with late-game experience.

Do they believe they have enough veterans now in their remade bullpen, or could there still be room for more?

“There’s never enough,” Martinez said. “But right now, the guys we have in camp, the guys we’re looking at, they’re all really qualified to pitch in the bullpen.”