How All Of The 2015 Nationals Pitchers Were Acquired:

By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024

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The Nationals have done a great job of stockpiling pitching arms since relocated to the district in 2005.  From Stephen Strasburg, to Jordan Zimmermann, and unheralded pitchers like Craig Stammen and Ross Detwiler.

The acquisitions tree saw Minor League Prospect A.J. Cole drafted by the organization, traded to Oakland in the Gio Gonzalez, only to be brought back in the 3 way deal with the A’s and Seattle, that saw Mike Morse sent to Seattle.

A small part of that transaction included Ian Krol, who was packaged with two Nats selections in the MLB Amateur Draft (Robbie Ray and Steve Lombardozzi).

We have even traced a tree that stems all the way back to the Montreal Expos Drafting Jose Vidro.

The Starting 5 pitchers all contributed to Washington being the top seed in the National League during the 2014 year,

A big thank-you must be send to Yanks GM Brian Cashman, for giving the Nationals Tyler Clippard first, but then to also let Matt Thornton be claimed for no parts going back the other way.

Drew Storen is yet another 1st RD Draft Pick that is part of the Pitching Staff for Washington.

Tanner Roark was also stolen in a deal for Christian Guzman from Texas, with the latter having just a small cup of coffee with the Rangers organization, while Roark might have been the best #5 Starter in baseball this past campaign.

Xavier Cedeno joins Thornton as the only players to have been claimed by the squad.

There is not many questionable trades within the clubs brass.  Gonzalez definitely provided a great return for Billy Beane in numbers, but the pieces left on the team as the assets from him are Derek Norris, John Jaso (3 way deal for Morse, sending Cole back.  This was a deal that also saw Krol and  Blake Treinen thrown in, and The RHP maybe  a contributor for years with the Nats.)

Beane made up for that deal by sending LHP Jerry Blevins to Washington for speedy prospect Billy Burns.

Overall the franchise has done a fantastic job of assembling the whole rotation and relief core.

The team has all of the roster aforementioned for the 2015 year, and only lost Rafael Soriano from the 2014 team, as he lost his confidence.  Nationals GM Rizzo declined the $15 MIL Club Option for him.

After the 2015 campaign. the team will see ZImmermann, Fister, Blevins, Thornton, Detwiler and Clippard all potentially hit the open market for Free Agency in 2016, so they must make next year count.

It will be so hard to keep the volume of players after next season.  Zimmermann’ wlll be the most sought after commodity of that bunh.  Out of these six, I could see the club retaining Clippard – and extend Fister a ‘Qualifying Offer for one more year in 2016.

For those that have never seen one of our Roster Trees, we go over how all of the players were acquired.

It works like 6 degrees of separation. By searching back to the origin of all the way back until a player is signed, drafted or purchased, It totally gives you an idea on how the franchise has fared.

The Pitchers In 2015 (Date Of Birth Or Age) (Pitching Pos) Roster Tree

Jordan Zimmermann (5/23/86) SP: Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 2nd round of the 2007 amateur draft.

Stephen Strasburg (7/20/88) SP:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 2009 amateur draft.

Tanner Roark (10/5/86) SP:  July 30, 2010: Traded by the Texas Rangers with Ryan Tatusko (minors) to the Washington Nationals for Cristian Guzman.

Ryan Tatusko (3/27/85) SP:  Started 14 Games at Syracuse in 2014 before being dealt to the Korean League to finish out the year.

Cristian Guzman (3/21/78) SS:  November 16, 2004: Signed as a Free Agent with the Washington Nationals.  6 YRs/$32.4 MIL.

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Doug Fister (2/4/84) SP:  December 2, 2013: Traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Washington Nationals for Ian Krol, Steve Lombardozzi and Robbie Ray.

Steve Lombardozzi ( 9/20/88) UT: Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 19th round of the 2008 amateur draft.

Robbie Ray (10/1/91) SP:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 12th round of the 2010 amateur draft.

Ian Krol (5/9/91) RP:  March 20, 2013: the Oakland Athletics sent Ian Krol to the Washington Nationals to complete an earlier deal made on January 16, 2013. January 16, 2013: The Oakland Athletics sent a player to be named later, A.J. Cole (minors) and Blake Treinen to the Washington Nationals. The Seattle Mariners sent John Jaso to the Oakland Athletics. The Washington Nationals sent Mike Morse to the Seattle Mariners.

Blake Treinen (6/30/88) P:  Appeared in 15 Games for the big club this year.

A.J. Cole (1/5/92) SP:  Steadily working up the Minor League System, ended up the year in Syracuse.

Mike Morse (3/22/82) 1B/OF:  June 28, 2009: Traded by the Seattle Mariners to the Washington Nationals for Ryan Langerhans.

Ryan Langerhans (2/20/80) OF:  May 2, 2007: Traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Washington Nationals for Chris Snelling.

Chris Snelling (12/3/81) C:  December 18, 2006: Traded by the Seattle Mariners with Emiliano Fruto to the Washington Nationals for Jose Vidro and cash.

Emiliano Fruto (6/6/84) P:  August 21, 2007: Traded by the Washington Nationals to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Chris Carter.

Chris Carter (9/16/82) OF:  August 21, 2007: the Washington Nationals sent Chris Carter to the Boston Red Sox to complete an earlier deal made on August 17, 2007. August 17, 2007: The Washington Nationals sent a player to be named later to the Boston Red Sox for Wily Mo Pena and cash.

Wily Mo Pena (1/23/82) OF:  March 31, 2009: Released by the Washington Nationals.

Jose Vidro (1/27/74) 2B:  Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 6th round of the 1992 amateur draft.

Gio Gonzalez (9/19/85) SP: December 23, 2011: Traded by the Oakland Athletics with Robert Gilliam (minors) to the Washington Nationals for A.J. Cole (minors), Tommy Milone, Derek Norris and Brad Peacock.

Robert Gilliam (11/29/87) P:  Pitched just 17.2 IP and was out for the rest of the year due to injury in his arm.

Tommy Milone (2/16/87) SP:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 10th round of the 2008 amateur draft.

Derek Norris (2/14/89) C:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 4th round of the 2007 amateur draft.

Brad Peacock (2/2/88) SP:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 41st round of the 2006 amateur draft.

A.J. Cole (1/15/92): Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 4th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft.  He would later be re-acquired in the Mike Morse 3 way deal.

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Taylor Jordan (1/17/89) SP:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 9th round of the 2009 amateur draft.

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Ross Detwiler (3/6/86) P:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 9th round of the 2009 amateur draft.

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Tyler Clippard (2/14/85) RP:  December 4, 2007: Traded by the New York Yankees to the Washington Nationals for Jonathan Albaladejo.

Jonathan Albaladejo (10/30/82) P: May 3, 2007: Signed as a Free Agent with the Washington Nationals.

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Drew Storen (8/11/87) RP: Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 2009 amateur draft.

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Matt Thornton (9/15/76) RP:  August 5, 2014: Selected off waivers by the Washington Nationals from the New York Yankees.

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Jerry Blevins (9/16/83) RP:  December 11, 2013: Traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Washington Nationals for Billy Burns.

Billy Burns (8/30/89) PH/OF: Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 32nd round of the 2011 amateur draft.

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Aaron Barrett (1/2/88) RP:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 9th round of the 2010 amateur draft.

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Ryan Mattheus (9/10/83) RP:  July 31, 2009: Traded by the Colorado Rockies with Robinson Fabian (minors) to the Washington Nationals for Joe Beimel.

Robinson Fabian (2/10/83) RP:  Released prior to the 2011 year.

Joe Beimel (4/19/77) RP:  March 18, 2009: Signed as a Free Agent with the Washington Nationals.  1 YR/$2 MIL.

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 Craig Stammen (3/19/84)  RP:  Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 12th round of the 2005 amateur draft.

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 Xavier Cedeno (8/26/86) RP:  April 23, 2013: Selected off waivers by the Washington Nationals from the Houston Astros.

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Jose Vidro was traded for Snelling, who was traded for Langerhans, who was flipped to Seattle for Morse, who the Nats would later trade back to the M’s years later for A.J. Cole as part of a 3 way deal.  Cole was a player they used to pick up Gonzalez.  So Vidro’s tree also gave them a part to pick up Doug Fister (Ian Krol was traded to Nats as part of Morse deal).  You follow? Gio Gonzalez and Blake Treinen also figure in with Cole.

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