The Nationals have long seemed like the favorites to land White Sox closer David Robertson. Washington has a team talented enough to push for the National League pennant, but without a dominant closer, it seems unlikely that the team unseats the Cubs.
Currently Shawn Kelly, Blake Treinen and Koda Glover are the three most likely candidates to enter the season as the Nationals ninth inning pitcher. As I listed in a previous article, the three have a combined 12 major league saves.
Adding a player like Robertson, who has proven time and time again that he knows what it takes to close, greatly bolsters the Nationals chances of reaching the World Series. The team already has a dominant offense and pitching staff, adding a talented closer could be the missing piece.
The two clubs have had dialogue earlier this offseason. USA Today's Bob Nightengale even reported that a deal was close at one time. With the Nats having an obvious need and the White Sox having an obvious solution, it was only a matter of time before the two teams rekindled trade discussion.
On Tuesday, February 21st, the Nationals signed former All Star catcher Matt Wieters to a two year deal.
https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/834055863572844549
Wieters on his own is a great signing for Washington. He is a career .256 hitter with 117 home runs and 437 RBIs. He was voted to his fourth All Star game in 2016.
However Wieters signing also creates a surplus for the Nationals. The team's major league roster now features three catchers in Wieters, Derek Norris and Jose Lobaton. Washington also has an incredibly talented catching prospect in Pedro Severino.
The White Sox need for a backstop has been widely known. The team currently has Geovany Soto, Omar Narvaez and Kevan Smith in major league Spring Training.
Soto is the veteran and likely the starter. His 12 years in the MLB will help groom the White Sox fairly young pitching core. Narvaez is the incumbent starter and just 25 years old. He has stuggled during his time in the MLB, but has the potential to become atleast a major league backup. Smith is going on age 29 and is more of organizational depth at this point.
At the minor league level the White Sox have talented prospect Zack Collins. Collins hitting abilty is undeniable, but some are worried about the prospects of him staying behind the dish. If he is forced to move to first base, the team's catching depth would take a serious hit.
Overall, Soto or Naravez are both below average MLB starters. Collins oozes potential, but it is not yet known if that potential will come as a backstop. The Chicago White Sox are in need of a catcher.
With the Nationals still in need of a closer and the White Sox still looking to add a catcher, both teams remain the perfect trade partners.
According to ESPN's Jayson Stark both teams realize the others need and have rekindled trade discussions revolving around David Robertson. A former scout familiar with the Nationals confirmed Starks report.
https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/834065062570631169
Stark goes on to write that Derek Norris or Pedro Severino could interest the White Sox.
https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/834065821940981760
Norris is a much more short-term fit for the White Sox. In 557 games over five major league seasons, Norris has hit .233 with 54 home runs, 223 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.
The Nationals catcher would fill the same role that Soto is right now. He is a veteran presence who would be able to guide the White Sox young pitchers. However that alone does not deserve Robertson.
If the White Sox move Robertson to the Nats in a deal involving Norris, then one of Washington's top prospects in Andrew Stephenson or Carter Kieboom would have to come to the South Side.
Severino is an entirely different story. Currently the Nationals 11th best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, the Severino alone would be amazing haul for the White Sox. He is a defensive first catcher and one of the best all-around backstops in the minor leagues. A one-for-one trade of Robertson for Severino makes sense.
Severino appeared in 16 games at the MLB level in 2016. He hit .321 with two home runs and four RBIs. In 421 minor league games, Severino hit .243 with 19 home runs, 153 RBIs and seven stolen bases. Severino has thrown out 35% of base runners at the minor league level and 43% at the major league level.
MLB Pipeline describes Severino by saying:
Scouts view Severino as one of the best defensive catchers in the Minors. His athleticism and agility make him an excellent blocker, and he receives raves from pitchers and coaches alike for his pitch-framing and overall receiving skills. Severino is adept at controlling the running game, as his combination of advanced footwork and plus arm strength have produced an excellent caught-stealing rate over parts of six Minor League seasons.
Collins is a better hitter than Severino, but the Nats prospect is much better defensively. Playing Severino at catcher and Collins at first may be the White Sox best alignment defensively going forward.
Derek Norris to the White Sox may be a stretch, but Pedro Severino is a definite fit and a prospect the White Sox should be targeting.
Overall, the White Sox need a catcher and the Nationals need a closer. With Washington having Pedro Severino and Chicago having David Robertson, it appears that the two teams will agree to a deal sooner rather than later.
Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14
B
BearsRecord:--
