It's funny -- if they let the current crop of mediocre and exhausted relievers continue to blow leads, we criticize. If they scour the waiver wire and add castoffs, we criticize. 😉
Lovelady is a known commodity with 7 years of MLB experience. He's not great but he is competent. In a few weeks, when Henry returns and this 'pen has had a chance to catch it's breath, they can cut Lovelady loose again. I gotta believe this will be a recurring theme throughout 2026.
Sounds like it. I'd suggest flipping your thinking a bit. The man keeps getting signed to MLB contracts, not minor league ones. You're focused on him being cut. That he keeps getting signed to major league contracts tells us the people who get paid to evaluate talent think he's competent. 🤷
Terrible news about Waldichuck. I know he wasn’t the most effective reliever for us, but he’s a regular guy just trying to live his childhood dream of playing major league ball and he’s headed for the long TJ recovery process for the second time in three years. Wish nothing but the best for him. Glad we re-acquired the all-name team staple Dick Lovelady too
The Nats need an upgrade at catcher badly. Sam Huff is likely going to get DFA-ed by the Orioles in the next 2 weeks, he would be a huge upgrade. I wish Toboni & company would utilize waivers more aggressively to improve the bullpen, replace Mikolas & improve defense at 1b and catcher.
Harry Ford isn't hitting and there are plenty of catchers out there currently that we could have temporarily that would upgrade the defense behind the plate NOW and still be DFA-ed later in the season if Ford takes the bull by it's horns.
I didn't say it was a GOOD upgrade! Ford's not even among the top 5 catching prospects in the minors. If he was, he'd likely not be in AAA. I'm just saying the evidence suggests -- after giving up Ferrer for Ford -- that he's the planned upgrade.
They're also paying Riley Adams $500K to stay in Rochester, a very unusual contractual arrangement for a guy not on the 40 man. The average salary in AAA is under $40K; they obviously value Adams. You don't pay a guy more than 10X the average salary if you plan to let him linger in AAA. That suggests they're not going to go out on the market for another catcher. If they give up on Millas, it seems more likely that Adams is re-added to the 40 after clearing waivers.
They're unexpectedly 8-10, which further limits the urgency to make changes while Ford develops in Rochester.
Agree. But I think wasting so much money on Strasburg, Corbin, and Ruiz is what has made them gun shy on spending on long-term expensive contracts. Yes, it’s part of sports ownership and every team has their horror stories. But for them, it’s been a long time since spending good money on Max Scherzer. Sadly, they were led astray by some of Rizzo’s contract recommendations (and poor drafting). Hopefully the new management team led by Paul Toboni will earn their confidence and loosen some purse strings.
The Mets also cut pitcher Luis Garcia loose. Maybe the Nats re-acquire him as well... he pitched well enough in DC last year to get flipped at the deadline.
Penrod's a minor league journeyman, including stints in Independent ball, with only 4 innings of MLB experience since 2017, ; his career WHIP in AAA has been above 2. In 2025 he had more walks than IP.
Lovelady has 7 years of MLB experience. And better numbers. I'd guess that's the reason?
Just look at last year. The Nats picked a few waiver wire relievers and then traded them. This included Andrew Chafin who we than traded. Relivers are a strange breed.
All these roster move comments seem to give the team no credit for a focus on development. You don't just call up long-term projects before they are ready - even if their small sample size numbers look good. And you don't give up on develop-able players and cut them - even if their small sample size numbers are not good. Well-run franchises stick with the plan on those players, and journeymen like Lovelady are who fill gaps when you have an overtaxxed pen or emergency need.
That was a tricky 6-4-3 for Abrams, Nunez and Garcia to turn, but they pulled it off. Yes, Ozuna is as slow a runner as you're going to find, but it still required some nice work by all three infielders to get Griffin out of that inning.
Let's see what Lovelady adds to the bullpen
Probably as much as the last time.
(IOW, nada. There's a reason he's been cut twice. Why they are bothering with him again is a mystery.)
Wild pickup for us
It's funny -- if they let the current crop of mediocre and exhausted relievers continue to blow leads, we criticize. If they scour the waiver wire and add castoffs, we criticize. 😉
Lovelady is a known commodity with 7 years of MLB experience. He's not great but he is competent. In a few weeks, when Henry returns and this 'pen has had a chance to catch it's breath, they can cut Lovelady loose again. I gotta believe this will be a recurring theme throughout 2026.
If he was competent he would not have been cut in the first place. Let alone by back-to-back teams.
Just not true. He's not good. That's why he gets cut. Competent is a whole different standard. Especially for left-handed pitchers! 😉
You must have a very different definition of competent than I do.
Sounds like it. I'd suggest flipping your thinking a bit. The man keeps getting signed to MLB contracts, not minor league ones. You're focused on him being cut. That he keeps getting signed to major league contracts tells us the people who get paid to evaluate talent think he's competent. 🤷
Terrible news about Waldichuck. I know he wasn’t the most effective reliever for us, but he’s a regular guy just trying to live his childhood dream of playing major league ball and he’s headed for the long TJ recovery process for the second time in three years. Wish nothing but the best for him. Glad we re-acquired the all-name team staple Dick Lovelady too
His parents had an interesting sense of humor....
His middle name is Ulysses. I jest.
The Nats need an upgrade at catcher badly. Sam Huff is likely going to get DFA-ed by the Orioles in the next 2 weeks, he would be a huge upgrade. I wish Toboni & company would utilize waivers more aggressively to improve the bullpen, replace Mikolas & improve defense at 1b and catcher.
Sam is no longer with us. He was, however, a really great linebacker back in the day! (couldn't resist!)
The catcher upgrade is in Rochester in the person of Harry Ford. They also have 4 other catching prospects in their top 50.
As they're paying Ruiz $80M and his contract goes another few years, you'd have to think he's not going anywhere for a while.
Harry Ford isn't hitting and there are plenty of catchers out there currently that we could have temporarily that would upgrade the defense behind the plate NOW and still be DFA-ed later in the season if Ford takes the bull by it's horns.
I didn't say it was a GOOD upgrade! Ford's not even among the top 5 catching prospects in the minors. If he was, he'd likely not be in AAA. I'm just saying the evidence suggests -- after giving up Ferrer for Ford -- that he's the planned upgrade.
They're also paying Riley Adams $500K to stay in Rochester, a very unusual contractual arrangement for a guy not on the 40 man. The average salary in AAA is under $40K; they obviously value Adams. You don't pay a guy more than 10X the average salary if you plan to let him linger in AAA. That suggests they're not going to go out on the market for another catcher. If they give up on Millas, it seems more likely that Adams is re-added to the 40 after clearing waivers.
They're unexpectedly 8-10, which further limits the urgency to make changes while Ford develops in Rochester.
Well, we all know the Lerners are the only reason Ruiz is still here. Worst owners in baseball.
Agree. But I think wasting so much money on Strasburg, Corbin, and Ruiz is what has made them gun shy on spending on long-term expensive contracts. Yes, it’s part of sports ownership and every team has their horror stories. But for them, it’s been a long time since spending good money on Max Scherzer. Sadly, they were led astray by some of Rizzo’s contract recommendations (and poor drafting). Hopefully the new management team led by Paul Toboni will earn their confidence and loosen some purse strings.
Harry needs more time. He seems a bit off.
The Mets also cut pitcher Luis Garcia loose. Maybe the Nats re-acquire him as well... he pitched well enough in DC last year to get flipped at the deadline.
I wonder what it is that the Mets and Nats see in Lovelady. Clearly there's something. I would have just brought Penrod up.
Penrod's a minor league journeyman, including stints in Independent ball, with only 4 innings of MLB experience since 2017, ; his career WHIP in AAA has been above 2. In 2025 he had more walks than IP.
Lovelady has 7 years of MLB experience. And better numbers. I'd guess that's the reason?
Nice summary
Just look at last year. The Nats picked a few waiver wire relievers and then traded them. This included Andrew Chafin who we than traded. Relivers are a strange breed.
I'm asking myself the same thing. His stuff is extremely . . . average.
But I guess average would be a big improvement.
I think Griff will continue to do well today.
I'm ready for the bats to wake up after their catnap last night. GO NATS!!
Why not move Mikolas to the bullpen full-time?
or even better.. move him to someone else's bullpen.
Seems an odd move with Lovelady, but the mixing and matching Buetera is doing seems to work more often than not. Let's see how he does.
And we're underway on a 75-degree Thursday afternoon here at PNC Park.
So anybody have success login on Nats TV with a cable provider now the option comes up but when I choose it nothing happens
I get it on Fios.
All these roster move comments seem to give the team no credit for a focus on development. You don't just call up long-term projects before they are ready - even if their small sample size numbers look good. And you don't give up on develop-able players and cut them - even if their small sample size numbers are not good. Well-run franchises stick with the plan on those players, and journeymen like Lovelady are who fill gaps when you have an overtaxxed pen or emergency need.
Brady House has fallen back on bad chasing habits the past week or so of games. Jorbit Vivas is outplaying him and I'd like to see more Vivas
That was a tricky 6-4-3 for Abrams, Nunez and Garcia to turn, but they pulled it off. Yes, Ozuna is as slow a runner as you're going to find, but it still required some nice work by all three infielders to get Griffin out of that inning.
A lot of early contact from the Nats so far today. Ashcraft has thrown only 29 pitches through 3 scoreless innings.
Holy getaway day approaches, Batman
The Nationals now haven't scored in their last 18 innings. The pitching staff has only given up 3 runs in that same span.
CJ Abrams, however, has now reached base in 12 of his last 14 plate appearances.