The Nationals designated a left-handed reliever for assignment. Richard Lovelady Allocated according to club announcements. His roster spot goes to a right-handed pitcher. Jack LittellHis previously reported one-year deal with the Nats is now official.
Washington claimed Lovelady off waivers from the Mets on January 29. He signed a split major league contract with the Mets in October, who hoped he would clear waivers and help them stash Triple-A depth in Syracuse. It didn’t work, at least in the initial attempt, as the Nats quickly grabbed him. Lovelady will now be traded within the next five days or placed on waivers, which will last for 48 hours. His DFA will be resolved within a week.
Lovelady has been solid with the Nats in camp so far. He allowed four hits and three walks and struck out seven batters in four innings. He allowed 11 runs in 11 2/3 big league innings between the Blue Jays and Mets in 2025, but posted a whopping 1.66 ERA with a 26.3% strikeout rate, 8.6% walk rate, and 52.6% ground ball rate in 38 frames in Triple-A.
Lovelady has put up strong numbers in the upper minors, but is no stranger to struggles in the MLB. He has 111 career MLB frames and a 5.35 ERA, but has a 2.61 ERA, 26.9% strikeout rate, and 7% walk rate in 175.2 Triple-A innings over seven seasons. Lovelady hasn’t had consistent success in the major leagues, but he has posted a solid 4.25 ERA with quality strikeout, walk and ground ball rates in 78 1/3 big league frames from 2022-24.
With his minor league options gone, Lovelady can’t simply return to Triple-A. The Nats will be hoping he can come off waivers and be hidden in the upper minors within their system like the Mets attempted to do. He was placed on waivers several times last year but was selected to the major league roster five times between Toronto and New York, including signing a major league contract with the Mets in October. He’s bounced around the MLB rosters of the Royals, Aces, Cubs, Jays, and Mets since 2022, so it’s certainly possible for another club in need of bullpen depth to get a cheap flyer via waivers or a cash swap.
