Still very much in need of a closer, the Washington Nationals may be turning their attention towards the trade market in an effort to land one.
According to a report by Jon Morosi of MLB Network on Wednesday, the Nationals have discussed a trade for righty reliever Alex Colome with the Tampa Bay Rays.
#Rays, #Nationals have discussed closer Alex Colome in trade talks, sources say. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 7, 2016
Colome, 27, made the AL All-Star team in 2016 with a 1.91 ERA and 37 saves in 40 opportunities. He is under club control through 2020 and doesn’t even becoming arbitration-eligible until 2018.
The Nationals seem to believe that the top free agent closers on the market are too pricey for them and just witnessed Mark Melancon, their ninth-inning guy last year, sign with an NL rival.
A quality talent on a highly agreeable contract like Colome will probably cost a pretty penny, but it may represent Washington’s best option at this juncture of the offseason.
Image via Alex Colome on Twitter
