The impetus for last week’s Jonathan Papelbon trade wasn’t so much about the Nationals trying to bolster the ninth inning as it was about bolstering the seventh and eighth innings. Mike Rizzo already knew he had an elite closer in Drew Storen; what he didn’t have were consistently reliable setup men to bridge the gap from starter to Storen.
One week since the blockbuster deal, the Nationals general manager’s grand vision has been working to near-perfection. Papelbon is 2-for-2 in save opportunities since joining his new club, but the real stars of the Nats bullpen have been the guys pitching in front of him: Casey Janssen and Storen.