The Nationals have placed righty Aaron Barrett on outright waivers, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post writes. Barrett would have been eligible for arbitration this offseason as a Super Two (and was projected to make a mere $700K), but the Nats have elected not to take him through that process.
The 28-year-old Barrett had Tommy John surgery late in the 2015 campaign. Late this season, while attempting a comeback from the injury, he fractured his elbow, requiring another surgery. Janes notes that Barrett is set to begin throwing again in a few weeks, but the Nationals’ decision to place him on outright waivers indicates that they’re not confident he’s likely to be a significant contributor next season. They might, however, be hoping to bring him back next season on a minor league deal.
Prior to Barrett’s recent run of bad luck, he was a key part of the Nationals’ bullpens in 2014 and 2015, pitching to a 3.47 ERA, 10.8 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 70 innings over those two seasons. At his best, he boasted a mid-90s fastball and effective slider, although it’s unclear what his stuff might be like once he returns.
Seems like a good Brewers pickup.
He actually sounds like he’d be a low risk and economical prospect that the Angels should try to nab. High upside…let’s make a deal.
Deals like this is why the halos struggled so bad, they went from 2-3 pitchers away to a disastrous year, good thing they got Eppler! All he did was run them into the ground
I agree….
Why would anyone claim him, thus having to pay him $700k in arbitration and having to give him an immediate 40-man roster spot when they can wait 48 hours for him to be outrighted an to become a free agent where they could give him a minor league contract with an invite to spring training and possibly some incentives on top of the league minimum. A claim just simply doesn’t make any sense.
Does he have the ability to reject the outright and become a free agent? If I’m a GM with one or two spots open on my 40-man, I’m all over placing a claim and locking up a young, cheap arm that has mid-90s stuff with a good slider and 10.8/K 3.5/BB numbers. If you get him on waivers, you don’t have to out-negotiate anyone else. Injured or not, seems like a guy at least 10-12 clubs would jump on.