Yesterday, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo pulled off another strong signing as the team has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with reliever Joe Blanton. The team has not gone out and signed an elite closer, but they have left manager Dusty Baker with plenty of options going forward.
First, let’s take a closer look at the Blanton signing. On just a one-year deal, this is a perfect deal for the Washington Nationals. The 36-year-old had 75 appearances last season (career-high) and shut down the Nats in last year’s NLDS for the Los Angeles Dodgers.