Nationals Letting World Series Game 7 Closer Walk to Sign Guy That Took the Loss is Poetic

The Washington Nationals have all but confirmed that reliever Daniel Hudson, who recorded the final out in the 2019 World Series that brought Washington a title, will not be back with the team in 2020.

In fact, they revealed their intentions by succumbing to the pressures of another reliever entirely: the one they just beat to capture the franchise's first World Series.

Washington inked ex-Astros reliever Will Harris on Thursday night, the same player that allowed the decisive hit to Howie Kendrick that put the Nationals in front for good in Game 7, to a three-year deal worth $24 million. And they pulled the trigger, despite knowing it would mean the end of the road for the man who helped make sure that homer stood up.

Harris is by no means a scrub. In fact, he's one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, as his 1.50 ERA in 2019, stronger than Hudson's 2.47 mark last season, as well as his 2.36 ERA over his last five seasons in Houston exhibit.

Additionally, his favorable splits in shutting down lefties help, too.

However, acting quickly to bring in a comparable, and unfamiliar, reliever, while clearly and plainly choosing him over the man who delivered your hardware, is a strange narrative choice.

Thanks for the World Series, Daniel. Now see you later!

Harris will undoubtedly shore up Washington's bullpen, but the fact that the Nationals were able to cut ties with Hudson so quickly after he got the most pivotal out in franchise history seems a bit strange.