WASHINGTON (AP) — Trevor Rosenthal’s comeback from his 2017 Tommy John surgery went so well Matt Adams Jersey , the Washington Nationals newest reliever says he considered trying to get back to the majors last season.“The whole process has been very smooth. No hiccups. I felt really good the whole time. Almost too good,” Rosenthal said Monday during a conference call with reporters. “Especially there, after the All-Star break, I was kind of anxious, thinking I might be able to pitch before the season was over. But the plan all along from my doctor was just to take this year off, so we stuck with that plan.”Rosenthal, the former St. Louis Cardinals closer, agreed last week to a deal with the Nationals, who officially announced Saturday that they signed him.He joins holdover lefty closer Sean Doolittle at the back of Washington’s bullpen.Rosenthal said he hasn’t “really had too many conversations” yet with the Nationals about how they plan to use him.“Obviously, I mean, I think the plan is just being in high-leverage situations and hopefully, as a team, we’re winning a lot of games and have a lot of those opportunities to go around,” he said. “But for me http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-kevin-long-jersey , it’s not something where I need to know exactly what my role is going to be.”Rosenthal also said he doesn’t think there will be any sort of “hard stop or exact limitations to what I’m going to do,” in terms of number of innings or appearances as he returns from the reconstructive elbow surgery.In Washington, he’ll be reunited with Nationals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist, who used to hold that position with the Cardinals.The Nationals gave Rosenthal a 2019 contract that guarantees him $7 million and gives the righty a chance to earn an additional $8 million in performance bonuses. The agreement includes a $15 million conditional player option for 2020 that kicks in if Rosenthal appears in 50 games next year or has 30 games finished.The 28-year-old Rosenthal is a hard-thrower with 121 career saves, all for the Cardinals, including a career-high 48 in 2015, when he was an NL All-Star. He had 45 saves in 2014.He had only 14 saves in 2016, and 11 in 2017 before getting injured. Rosenthal was released by the Cardinals in November 2017, a few months after his operation.“By the time I started throwing, I was really chomping at the bit to get back into it. And I had done so much exercises and rehabilitation work that my arm probably felt the best it’s felt in the past five or six years,” Rosenthal said. “So I was excited to try it out — and also kind of let down when I did do my first throwing session and I realized that I was only allowed to throw it a maximum of 40 feet and for only so many throws. I was like, ‘Really? That was it?’ I’m used to throwing really hard for an extended amount of time, every single day.” NEW YORK — As the New York Yankees start the final month, their roster will be getting some significant fortifications via a trade and a key piece returning from the disabled list.Andrew McCutchen and Gary Sanchez are expected to be in the lineup Saturday afternoon when the Yankees continue a four-game series with the Detroit Tigers.The Yankees also acquired infielder Adeiny Hechavarria in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.Article continues below ...Masahiro Tanaka will start for the Yankees and Daniel Norris will return from a lengthy disabled-list stint because of a groin injury to start for Detroit.McCutchen and Sanchez are joining the Yankees after an eventful 7-5 Yankees win on Friday night. New York’s 10th win in 14 games was decided on a bases-loaded http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-joaquin-benoit-jersey , two-run single by rookie Gleyber Torres in the eighth inning off Alex Wilson after a controversial check-swing walk by Luke Voit off Joe Jimenez.McCutchen was acquired from the San Francisco Giants on Friday for two prospects — infielder Abiatal Avelino and pitcher Juan De Paula.Friday was the last day players could be traded and still be eligible to appear in postseason games for their new teams.McCutchen was in his first season with the Giants after spending his first nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. McCutchen batted .255 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs in 130 games while posting a .357 on-base percentage.“We’re getting a really good player,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think that’s exciting for us and I’m just looking forward to him getting here tomorrow, hopefully putting him in the lineup and seeing him help us. “Last week when the Giants visited the New York Mets, McCutchen cleared waivers and when informed about it, he quipped: “I’ve got a better chance of understanding trigonometry.”What the Yankees understood was they possess a right field problem since Aaron Judge is finishing his fifth week of being on the disabled list with a fractured right wrist. While Giancarlo Stanton has manned right field at times, the Yankees would like to use him at designated hitter. But New York’s right fielders are hitting a combined .189 (23-for-122) in Judge’s absence.When McCutchen arrives in New York, he will be reunited with Neil Walker and J.A. Happ. Walker spent seven seasons in Pittsburgh playing with McCutchen and Happ spent the final two months of 2015 season with the Pirates.“I saw him for the three years that we made September,” Walker said. “Postseason pushes elevate his game to the next level, not that he needed to do that, but you saw him be the player that he’s capable of being when the spotlight’s on him. That’s fully what I expect when he steps in here.”The Yankees are hoping to see some big hits from Sanchez, who has missed 57 games in two DL stints with a groin injury. Sanchez last played July 23 in Tampa Bay, and he is trying to improve on a subpar season that has seen him bat .188 with 14 homers and 42 RBIs in 66 games.Sanchez tuned up for his return by homering twice in four rehab games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.“I think we’re getting potentially a front-line player and a guy that will be an absolute presence in our lineup,” Boone said.The Tigers totaled 12 hits Friday but lost for the sixth time in seven games. Niko Goodrum homered for the second straight night and Victor Martinez went 2-for-4, giving him a .339 average (21-for-62) in his last 17 games.“I’m just proud of our guys Ryan Zimmerman Jersey ,” said Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire, whose team came into the series after getting outscored 34-10 during a five-game losing streak. “I’m proud of the way they played. We’re in a big atmosphere here.”Tanaka (9-5, 3.97 ERA) starts for the Yankees after allowing four runs and 10 hits in seven innings Monday against the Chicago White Sox. He is 0-3 with a 4.40 ERA in his last five starts.Tanaka is 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in five career starts against Detroit. He is 0-3 with a 5.71 ERA in three home starts against the Tigers.Norris was 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in five appearances (two starts) this season, but he has been on the disabled list since April 30.Norris appeared in four rehab games at three different levels and compiled a 2.31 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. His velocity was around 91, 92 mph and he is stretched out to 90 pitches, according to Gardenhire.Norris last appeared for the Tigers on April 29 in Baltimore when he exited after three innings. He underwent surgery after pitching with the groin problem since last summer.“I’m just happy to be here,” Norris said. “Obviously appreciative of the opportunity. It was definitely an interesting year, rehabbing the whole time pretty much. I started with kind of a frustrating April, getting surgery and then going through that. It was difficult but I’m happy to be here.”The 25-year-old left-hander was one of three pitchers acquired from Toronto at the 2015 non-waiver trade deadline for David Price. Since joining Detroit, Norris has been on the disabled list four times with oblique, back, hip, quadriceps and groin issues.Norris is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Yankees.
