Cross off another possible closer from the Nationals’ shopping list.
The World Champion Chicago Cubs acquired All-Star reliever Wade Davis from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for outfielder Jorge Soler. Davis takes over the closer role for the Cubs from free agent Aroldis Chapman.
“Wade is going to pitch the ninth inning,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said.
Davis helped the Royals win the 2015 World Series. In 27 1/3 career postseason innings as a reliever, he has a 0.33 ERA with 39 strikeouts. Davis went 2-1 with 27 saves in 30 opportunities and a 1.87 ERA last season.
The Davis trade to the Cubs signaled the second time this week the Nationals missed out on acquiring a closer.
Incumbent Nationals closer Mark Melancon signed on Monday with the San Francisco Giants to a four-year, $62 million contract, so far the richest contract for a closer.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker made it known on Wednesday that he wanted Melancon back, but money was a factor.
“We all wanted Melancon, you know, but we don’t have the budget or the packed stadium for 800 games in a row like the Giants do,” Baker said. “They have more resources than we do. We got a lower budget and everybody has a budget. If we would have spent that on Melancon, we wouldn’t have been able to spend anything on anybody else.”
Baker acknowledged the possibility of still acquiring someone to fill the role.
“Well, the winter is not over yet, so you can’t be fearful of something that still has a chance to fill that position,” Baker said. “It would be different if we were in, you know late February, you know late January, early February.”
Besides Melancon and the since-departed Jonathan Papelbon, four other Nationals pitchers had at least one save last season. Righty Shawn Kelley had seven saves. Baker didn’t rule out an internal candidate in the role.
“Somebody always emerges,” Baker said. “I believe that, that somebody will come forward. They will separate themselves from the pack. But in the meantime, we’re still looking to fill that void.”
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