Tracking down former Nats pitchers

Yesterday, we tracked down some former Nationals position players to see what has become of them since we last saw them. Today we look at former pitchers, with some particularly notable and memorable names in this bunch.

ROSS DETWILER
The sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft had a few big moments during his Nationals career - most notably, he tossed a gem in the must-win Game 4 of the 2012 National League Division Series against the Cardinals - but he never could sustain it. The Nats decided they'd seen enough after the 2014 season, trading the left-hander to the Rangers for infielder Chris Bostick and reliever Abel De Los Santos. Detwiler has turned into a baseball nomad since then, pitching for the Rangers, Braves, Indians and Athletics in the last two seasons alone. He's now a free agent, trying to find another club that will give him an opportunity after a difficult two-year stretch that has seen him post a collective 6.73 ERA in 57 appearances (14 of them starts).

DOUG FISTER
The big right-hander was so good for the Nationals in 2014 (16-6, 2.41 ERA) that it was downright shocking when he struggled the following season (5-7, 4.19 ERA) and disappeared quietly into free agency. The Astros signed him for $7 million, and he wound up experiencing a roller-coaster season (1-3, 5.56 ERA in April; 11-6, 3.27 ERA from May through August; 0-4, 11.74 ERA in September). That poor finish is probably hurting Fister right now as he seeks another contract, with potential clubs not entirely sure which pitcher they would be getting. He still seems like he could prove quite a bargain to a team willing to take a chance on him, though.

JOHN LANNAN
The left-hander had the unfortunate label as the best starting pitcher on some really bad Nationals clubs, only to get pushed aside once the franchise finally got good. After going 10-13 with a 3.70 ERA in 2011, Lannan was surprisingly sent to Triple-A to open the 2012 season so the Nats could give the fifth starter's job to Detwiler. He came up late in the season to make six starts and went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA, but then the Nationals non-tendered him that fall. Lannan signed with the Phillies but got hurt and made only 14 starts in 2013. He signed with the Mets and pitched in only five games in 2014. He hasn't returned to the big leagues since, though he's still been pitching in the minors. Lannan made 25 starts for the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate in 2015, going 6-10 with a 5.39 ERA. He made 19 starts for the Royals' Triple-A affiliate in 2016, going 7-8 with a 5.24 ERA. He's a free agent again, trying to catch on with somebody before spring training.

HENRY RODRIGUEZ
The flame-throwing, wildly inconsistent reliever wasn't "Pretty Frickin' Bueno" enough to last long-term with the Nationals. After putting up a 5.83 ERA in 2012 and a 4.09 ERA in 2013, he was traded to the Cubs for Ian Dickson. Rodriguez has been all over the place since (and not just when we're talking about pitch location). He appeared in five games for the Cubs in 2013 and two games for the Marlins in 2014, but he also has been employed by the White Sox and Diamondbacks since then without reaching the majors. The last recorded appearances for Rodriguez came in the 2015 Venezuelan Winter League. It appears he did not throw a pitch for any affiliated minor league team in either of the last two seasons, which leaves his current location as parts unknown.

CRAIG STAMMEN
A true workhorse out of the Nationals bullpen from 2012-14, Stammen suffered a torn flexor tendon in his forearm one week into the 2015 season. He hasn't pitched in a big league game since. The Nationals non-tendered him last winter, and though he signed a minor league deal with the Indians, he never made it to Cleveland, going 1-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 23 games at three levels of their farm system. A free agent at season's end, Stammen signed another minor league deal in November, this time with the Padres. He'll head to spring training in Arizona trying to prove he's healthy and worthy of a spot in San Diego's bullpen.

DREW STOREN
The man on the mound for so many critical moments in Nationals history, Storen's D.C. career had an unceremonious conclusion (breaking his hand from slamming his locker shut after giving up a home run to Yoenis Cespedes in September 2015). General manager Mike Rizzo traded him to Toronto last winter, but Storen was a disaster north of the border, with a 6.21 ERA in 38 appearances before he was designated for assignment. The Blue Jays worked out a deal with the Mariners, and Storen pitched well after that, with a 3.44 ERA in 19 appearances. A free agent for the first time in his career this winter, he recently signed a $3 million deal with the Reds. Given Cincinnati's pitching struggles, Storen might well get an opportunity to close again if all goes well.

JONATHAN PAPELBON
He hasn't thrown a pitch for anybody since the Nationals released him in August. Not much else to say about this.