As the 2017 MLB Trade Deadline loomed, the Washington Nationals found themselves in a familiar spot needing yet more bullpen reinforcements to mount a World Series charge.
They were linked with a lot of the big names like Zack Britton and David Robertson. In the end, General Manager Mike Rizzo went a little outside the box and swung a deal for two Oakland Athletics relievers in Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle.
While Madson was effective for the team, his tenure in D.C. was relatively forgettable.
Meanwhile, Doolittle will be remembered fondly as he ended his three-and-a-half-year stint with a World Series ring and became a resounding fan favorite in the nation’s capital.