The Washington Nationals have one of the best starting rotations in the MLB and they just added three relieving arms to that, in Daniel Hudson, Hunter Strickland and Roenis Elias. A bullpen that has been shaky at times just became very well rounded.
Here come the Nationals again: Hunter Strickland is headed there from the Seattle Mariners, source confirms to ESPN. Third reliever of the day after Daniel Hudson and Roenis Elias.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
The Nationals acquired Hudson from the Toronto Blue Jays for 23-year-old starting pitcher Kyle Johnston. Johnston on the year with the High-A Potomac Nationals has started 20 games with a record of 9-9 and an ERA of 4.03. Washington gained a solid arm in Hudson who is 6-3 on the season with a 3.00 ERA in 48 innings pitched.
To acquire left-hander Elias the Nationals gave up LHP Taylor Guilbeau and RHP Elvis Alverado to the Seattle Mariners. Elias is 4-2 on the season with a 4.40 ERA on a not so great Mariners team that is struggling in the American League West division.
Washington also acquired former Mariner reliever Hunter Strickland for LHP Aaron Fletcher. Strickland has only appeared in 4 games this season due to a grade 2 sprain of his right lat muscle and since coming back his rust has shown. He owns a 8.10 ERA in only 3.1 innings pitched, but for his career he has proven to be a top notch reliever, appearing in 257 games with an impressive 2.98 ERA.
The Nationals now have great depth in their starting rotation and their bullpen, the only concern would be their offence moving forward. Outside of Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto that has been a problem all year, they might of dropped the ball by not acquiring a consistent bat to provide some help, but with the pitching staff they have a couple runs might be all they need to win games.
The Blue Jays have moved more players on a deadline that brought them the opportunity to move a plethora of players including Marcus Stroman in a blockbuster deal that sent him to the New York Mets organization.
