Nationals Bolster Bullpen by Calling Up Jonny Venters and Fernando Rodney

Following the release of the comically inept Trevor Rosenthal, the Washington Nationals have gone to great lengths to find someone competent to take a spot in the bullpen that currently has the worst ERA in all of baseball.

The Nats tried to give their bullpen the shot in the arm they need, calling up left-hander Jonny Venters from their Double-A team in Harrisburg while also adding 42-year-old flamethrower Fernando Rodney to the roster.

Venters, who went five entire seasons without throwing a pitch due to injury, was released by the Atlanta Braves in May after allowing 13 runs in 4.2 innings. This came just a year after he posted a 3.67 ERA in 50 games with the Rays and Braves.

Rodney was a closer as recently as last year, saving 25 games for the Minnesota Twins. He was released by the Oakland A's after posting a 9.42 ERA in 17 games.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, as the Nationals gave pulled Rodney out of an retirement home and Venters out of Double-A to attempt to create something resembling an MLB bullpen.

Only time will tell if these graybeards can still get MLB hitters out. But at this point, the Nats can't afford to be so picky.