As surprising as it may seem, Hector Carrasco is a guidepost of just how badly Major League Baseball's intransigence in the stadium and ownership negotiations is injuring the Nationals.
Carrasco was a useful middle reliever before September, but not much more. Then something amazing happened: he became a lights-out starter. After giving up two earned runs in four innings in his first start on September 13, Carrasco pitched 17 2/3 shutout innings in his next three starts. That's an ERA of 0.83 as a starter.
Will Carrasco continue to be an effective starter? Who knows, but one thing is certain: he's worth taking a chance on because he's been effective and he's a low-cost alternative as a fifth starter. Carrasco won't command lots of attention on the free agent market--he's not even listed on Steve Phillip's Top 50 free agents--so the Nationals shouldn't have to spend a ton to keep him. The Nationals apparently want him back, and Carrasco apparently wants to come back, so there shouldn't be any problem in signing him.
Unless, of course, the Nationals are so disabled by this ownership debacle that they can't sign him.
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