As Madson heads to L.A., Nats cope with summer of trades

Ryan Madson said he was surprised. So did Davey Martinez. Truth be told, neither should have been shocked that the Nationals traded Madson to the Dodgers today, not when considering the situation this team is now in on the final day players can be dealt and still be eligible for their new club's postseason roster.

"No, I was surprised," Madson told reporters during a brief session as he prepared to leave Nationals Park and catch a flight to Los Angeles. "I've been working all day. Have to get to the apartment, get out of here by 5:30. It's been a whirlwind. But I'll have tonight to slow down and tomorrow get after it."

Madson becomes the fifth veteran player the Nationals have traded in the last month, joining fellow relievers Brandon Kintzler (Cubs) and Shawn Kelley (Athletics), second baseman Daniel Murphy (Cubs) and first baseman Matt Adams (Cardinals) in departing a club that was supposed to be a contender for a club that actually is a contender.

The first moves, which came with the Nats only 5 1/2 games back in the National League East, may have caught some by surprise. But at this point, facing a 7 1/2-game deficit with 28 to go, it shouldn't surprise anyone that the organization is looking toward the future.

"It's hard because of the relationships I've built with these guys," said Martinez, who was watching advance scouting video of the Brewers when he got a call saying Madson had been traded. "That's the hardest part of it. But, you know, they're going to play baseball. And we continue to play baseball here. And I've been in this game a long time to know ... I've been traded multiple times, I've been on new teams a lot. So I get it. It's part of it. You've just got to keep moving on. I've watched our team, and through all the adversity, they don't quit. They're going to keep playing."

The Nationals bullpen looks dramatically different today than it did only five weeks ago. There is no designated closer, but rather a group of right-handers (Justin Miller, Greg Holland, Koda Glover) who each have been given opportunities to pitch the ninth inning. The rest of the unit now includes rookies Wander Suero and Jimmy Cordero, plus lefties Tim Collins, Matt Grace and Sammy Solís.

"For me, it means we get an opportunity to see some of our younger pitchers in the bullpen and give them a chance to go out there and see what they can do," Martinez said. "Ryan was a big part of our success here. But now we get to see the Corderos pitch a little bit more, the Sueros, and put them in situations and see what we've got."

Sean Doolittle, who appears to be inching closer to a return from the foot injury that has sidelined him since early July, admitted it will be tough to not have his friend and teammate - not only from Washington but the previous two seasons in Oakland - joining him in the bullpen.

"I'm really grateful for everything that I've learned from him over the past few years," Doolittle said of Madson. "I'm grateful that he let me tag along with him to come over here. I learned a lot from him. You look at his career arc and the injuries that he's overcome, the success he's had winning two World Series, just watching him go about his business and the mentality that he brings to the ballpark every day, it's bittersweet. I'm really going to miss him."

Though some won't be able to get over the lasting image of Madson surrendering a walk-off grand slam to David Bote on Aug. 12 at Wrigley Field in his second-to-last appearance for the Nationals, the 38-year-old was brilliant for them in 2018 (1.37 ERA in 20 games) and that's what he'll choose to remember.

"I don't have any disappointment," the reliever said. "I had a blast being here. I've been treated so well here, almost like baseball royalty. I can't believe how they took me in, the players, management, coaches, everybody, took me in. I was just so respected the whole time I was here. That feels really, really good."