Capps lands in Washington
by Evan BrunellDecember 24, 2009
In a marriage that made sense the moment the Pirates non-tendered Matt Capps, the right-hander has inked a deal with the Nationals.
So much for that, as Capps will ink at $3.5 million plus an additional $450,000 in incentives. The 26-year old will enter spring training the presumptive favorite to close games. Barring any late information being revealed, Washington will have the option to offer Capps arbitration after the year as the pitcher doesn't gain free agent rights until after 2011.
While Capps suffered through an ugly season, posting a 5.80 ERA, his xFIP tells a different story. xFIP, a measure of Fielding Independent Pitching that adjusts home runs based on it being a function of fly balls per ballpark, plummets to 4.37, more in line with a career xFIP of 4.14 and ERA of 3.61.
He is renowned for his control, checking in at 1.66 over his career although 2009 inflated that number with an ugly (for him) 2.82 BB/9. Provided that Capps firms up his control, he should go back to being a more than adequate closer, especially for a young, rebuilding team like the Nationals that recently inked Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Marquis.
Given that the Pirates will likely have to pay around $2-$3 million in base salary for a replacement closer (they've been linked to Octavio Dotel and Kevin Gregg), I think this was a massive misfire by Neal Huntington -- one of his rare misfires. Huntington is a quality general manager and I think stands a great chance (better than Cam Bonifay and Dave Littlefield, certainly) at turning the Pirates around, but this was a very curious decision by him. It doesn't impact his reputation, as every manager now and then will make the wrong move. Hopefully, Huntington learns from this and doesn't make the same mistake again.
Evan Brunell blogs the Red Sox regularly at Fire Brand of the American League. Stop by, or e-mail him with comments.
The was a great deal for the Nationals and for Capps. Capps is given an opportunity to regain value on the open market, and the Nationals will have the opportunity to use him in their penn until Drew Storen is ready.
From what I have read, Capps was offered a two year deal but turned it down from the Nationals, instead opting to take a one year deal and enter free-agency next year. I don’t think the Nationals have intentions to tender him if he is arbitration eligible (not sure about it either).
What I imagine will happen is that Capps will find a resurgence in Washington in the first half, and the Nationals will trade him. Capps will first get a platform to succeed and then a chance to compete. The Nationals will first get the services of a very good closer, then some sort of reward in return.
A win-win.