The best Nationals reliever has been the one the team non-tendered back in November
The Washington Nationals bullpen is already a sight for sore eyes, but imagine where the unit would be without Kyle Finnegan. That could have easily been the reality after the All-Star closer was non-tendered back in November. However, neither the Nats or Finnegan could find a better partner, so they ended up reuniting on a one-year deal.
This one-year deal has been a massive success so far. The 33 year old has a 1.69 ERA in 10.2 innings so far this season. He is also 9/9 in save opportunities to start the season. The Nats have put Finnegan in some tough spots to start the season, but he has delivered each and every time to date.
Last night was the most recent example of Finnegan delivering in a tight spot. It was classic Finnegan, putting the game in jeopardy with traffic on the bases before closing the door and winning the Nats the ballgame.
Last night Finnegan allowed two singles to Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle to make it first and second with one out. However, he struck out Tyler O’Neill and got Heston Kjerstad to pop up to end the ballgame.
Over the last few years, a lot of relievers have come and gone. Some good, some not as good. However, Kyle Finnegan has been the constant. He has never been a truly elite closer, but he gets the job done and is reliable. There will be times in the season where Finnegan struggles because that always happens. He is not going to sustain a 1.69 ERA, especially with a WHIP of 1.41.
However, the right hander has stepped up when it matters most. Whether it is a five out save against the Dodgers, or locking down a one run win against the O’s, Finnegan just gets the job done.
While we know the Kyle Finnegan package, he has made some tweaks that might make 2025 one of his better seasons. He is throwing his splitter more, bumping the pitches usage from 26.9% to 37.7%. Finnegan has bumped down his fastball usage, which has made the pitch more effective despite a bit less velocity.
At the end of the day, Finnegan will probably have an ERA in the mid 3’s, because that is where it sits every year. However, with some of the jokers in this bullpen, it makes you appreciate a guy like Finnegan.
He is never dominant, but you know what to expect each and every year. A lot of relief pitchers go back and forth between great years and bad years. Believe it or not, in 2023, Lucas Sims and Colin Poche both had better seasons than Finnegan has ever had. However, those guys do not have the consistency. Finnegan has that, we know what to expect each and every year.
Maybe the answer to building a bullpen in free agency is to try to find dependability rather than chasing upside. This is easier said than done because dependability usually does not come cheap. With the other relievers Mike Rizzo picked up this offseason, he was taking a gamble. However, he knew exactly what he was getting in Kyle Finnegan.
It is hard to imagine where the Nationals would be without their All-Star closer. I really hope Finnegan can get the franchise record in saves. With how he has pitched so far this season, he deserves it.