7 years agoWashington Nationals rookie starter A.J. Cole seems to have the fifth spot in the rotation locked down. The Nationals are still in talks with free-agent starter Jake Arrieta, but his price would seem to be too rich for Washington's blood. Fellow prospect Erick Fedde is also in the mix, but unlike him, Cole is out of minor league options. On Thursday, Cole punched out three batters over two innings in his spring debut, walking one and giving up only two hits. His fastball sat at 91-92 mph and his breaking pitches looked sharp. He's also gained weight in the offseason in an attempt to increase the mass of his lower body and reduce the stress on his arm. He hasn't shown much in his brief MLB stints, but he could be worth monitoring, especially in leagues that count wins with that dynamite offense backing him up.--Mario Hernandez - RotoBaller
Source: Jorge Castillo - The Washington Post