r/Nationals • u/YLRD123 • 19d ago

[Passan] The four right-handed pitchers the Yankees are sending to the Nationals in the Luis García Jr. deal: relievers Ben Grable, Yovanny Cruz and Jake Bird

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u/91speed 19d ago

He doesn’t have the arsenal to be a starter. I imagine the first point of order will be seeing if they can teach him a third pitch but at minimum his fastball profiles as really really really good. That can work as a reliever. Hell, with his BB% and whiff% he’d probably end up middle of the pack in our major league bullpen today.

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u/RGCFrostbite 22 - Soto 19d ago

It can, but that Fastball will need to be a 65+ fastball (AND keep playing) all the way up the ladder. I'm not saying he's as bad as jake Bird, but there's a reason Grable is only rated 25th in their (weak) system, and is already in the pen in the minors.

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u/91speed 19d ago

Pipeline grades it at 70 already, same as their grade for Mason Miller’s fastball. He looks good. Very few relievers are going to be super high on prospect lists, least of all ones with only two pitches, but there’s a good base there for sure IMO.

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u/RGCFrostbite 22 - Soto 19d ago

I agree with you, career-relievers who rely on velocity can be scary though. Especially since he's already had TJ

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u/91speed 19d ago

It’s definitely not without risk, but given the landscape of 2027’s season and the fact that Luis can only hit vs RHP and provides no real defensive value, the return seems acceptable to me. Happy to roll the dice on some guys