I would recommend picking up Hanrahan right away, even though his save totals may be limited pitching for the Nats. Hanrahan has a great K/9 this season of over 9, but the control is somewhat of a concern. Hanrahan should be valuable for his K's as well as Saves but expect the ERA to stay between 3.5 and 4.
Last year, Joel Hanrahan was a starting pitcher. That was his role; it also was his mind-set. Then the Washington Nationals moved him full-time to the bullpen this season. And Tuesday, with the trade of closer Jon Rauch to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hanrahan took another step in his progression as a reliever: He'll get the chance to finish ballgames.
"I didn't think it would happen this year," Hanrahan said.
That's because Washington started the year asking Hanrahan to pitch only in the middle innings, the sixth or seventh. The team already had Chad Cordero and Rauch at the back of the bullpen. But now, with one injured and one traded, Hanrahan, who has a 3.94 ERA, will get the first chance to fill a void.
"He's been our most dominant guy out of our bullpen and has the best numbers, so he'll get the crack at it," Manager Manny Acta said.
The Coyote already beat me to him in our NL only.
When I first seen the headline, I thought it said "Rusch" not "Rauch" was traded and thought nothing of it. Then my ACME spies gave me the news but to late for most of my NL only and public leagues except for a few. Someone had recently dropped him in another keeper league so everyone is waiting on the waiver to come through and for whatever reason Yahoo is not processing anything this morning.
I really thought Ayala was gonna get the nod. Been skeptical on him (Hanrahan) all year while watching him as the Ks mounted but the ERA and WHIP didn't waiver, but worth a shot now.