UPDATE: It’s a done deal, as Lidge gets a one-year contract worth $1 million.
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Longtime closer Brad Lidge is on the verge of signing with the Nationals as a setup man, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.
Lidge failed to save at least 15 games last season for the first time since 2003, as he spent the first three-plus months on the disabled list following elbow surgery and Ryan Madson was entrenched as the Phillies’ closer by the time he returned.
Drew Storen is in no danger of losing ninth-inning duties to Lidge and Tyler Clippard figures to remain the Nationals’ primary setup man, leaving the 35-year-old right-hander to work the sixth and seventh innings for the first time in his decade-long career.
Once an elite closer with a devastating mid-90s fastball and high-80s slider, Lidge averaged just 88.9 mph on his fastball and 80.9 mph on his slider last year. His velocity likely isn’t coming back, but Lidge still racked up 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings throwing in the high-80s and his slider remains one of MLB’s best pitches.
