March 31st: Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports tweets that Torres will earn $1.5MM if called up to the majors, with $1MM available in incentives. Beginning May 15th, Torres can request his release every 15 days if he is not on the Nats roster.
March 28th: The Nationals have signed right-handed reliever Carlos Torres to a minor league contract, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation tweets. The deal includes multiple opt-out dates for Torres, Cotillo adds.
[RELATED: Nationals Depth Chart]
The 35-year-old Torres only spent a few days on the open market after Cleveland released him Saturday. Torres joined the Tribe on a minors pact in the offseason, and he then yielded seven earned runs on 14 hits and six walks (with nine strikeouts) in 10 1/3 spring innings. That subpar performance, not to mention the Indians’ impressive cast of relievers, sealed his fate with them.
While Torres struggled during his brief stint with the Indians, he has been a useful major leaguer during his career. Since debuting in 2009, Torres has seen action with four teams (the White Sox, Rockies, Mets and Brewers) and pitched to a 4.00 ERA/4.17 FIP across 491 innings. Torres has been quite durable along the way, having logged at least 70 innings in four of the previous five seasons. He racked up 72 2/3 frames of 4.21 ERA/4.89 FIP pitching last year in Milwaukee, where he notched 6.94 K/9, 4.09 BB/9 and a 45.7 percent groundball rate.
Interesting how the term “useful” has replaced terms like mediocre or average. Don’t want to hurt any feelings Connor?
Carlos Torres is a workhorse reliever. Sure, his numbers aren’t amazing, but he certainly provides utility.
Another crap shoot to have alternatives for partial time just in case Bats relievers implode or injured.
Still need that bonified closer and long reliever, if the current guys mess up. Interesting times – Go Nats in NL, Go Yanks in AL!
Guys is absolutely lights out most nights. Solid move.
Yeah, it’s the days that kill him.
This guy ruined soooo many brewer games last year. At least the Nats have a guy to throw batting practice now.
Hey that’s not completely true he was perfect on their off days
Good point. Lol.
Or, the horrendous defense and horrible shifting/coaching of Counsel ruined soooo many Brewers games. Check out most of the Brewers pitchers and you’ll see that the vast majority of them underperformed last year. Villar at 2B, Braun in LF, lack of a quality C, etc.
I hit a HR against him in high school! Hopefully his career continues.
Isn’t this the pitcher that hit sammy Sosa in the helmet shattering it in 3 or 4 places. This dudes been around a long ass time. I think a week later sosa hit 2 Homer’s off Jose Lima that went to the furthest possible part of comerixa park without leaving the stadium.