The Nationals have signed right-hander Jordan Weems to a minor league deal, MLBTR has learned. The contract contains an invitation to the Nationals’ big league Spring Training camp, once that camp eventually opens after the lockout ends.
A veteran of 11 professional seasons, Weems made his MLB debut in 2020, posting a 3.21 ERA over 14 innings out of the Athletics’ bullpen. That solid performance didn’t carry over into a smaller sample size last season, as Weems had a 15.88 ERA over 5 2/3 total big league innings with the A’s and Diamondbacks. Arizona claimed Weems off waivers in July but only used him in two Major League games before outrighting him off their 40-man roster in August.
It was a tough season all around for Weems, who also had a 7.31 ERA over 28 1/3 combined innings at the Triple-A level with the Athletics’ and Diamondbacks’ top affiliates. Weems also saw a lot of shuttling back and forth between the majors and Triple-A, and he spent some time on the injured list with Triple-A Reno.
He’ll now look for a fresh start with Washington, and join a notable list of other newly-acquired pitchers (including Luis Avilan, Carl Edwards Jr., Victor Arano and more) competing in camp for a spot in the Nationals’ bullpen. Weems has a live fastball, though control has been an issue throughout his pitching career. This perhaps isn’t all that surprising since Weems only became a pitcher in 2016, after spending his first five minor league seasons as a catcher in the Red Sox farm system.
Way to bury the lede.
Is he related to Randall Weems?
This sounded like acquiring more spaghetti that wouldn’t stick to the wall until I saw the last sentence. That’s an interesting detail and maybe this guy has some reclamation potential.
Most MLB GMs are signing extra players right now for AAA as many 40-man locked out players would have been headed to AAA. The Red Sox have 5 pitchers and 5 regulars on the 40-man that would have been in AAA. Both AAA catchers (barring injuries) will not be with Worcester until the lockout ends. So borderline players that might not have been signed in a normal years are being signed right now. They have already signed one AAA catcher and may sign a second as Wong and Hernandez are on the locked out 40-man.
Looking at that list of reclamation players and has beens they’ve signed, Nats are either going to look like absolute geniuses or a compete joke come October this season (if we ever get one).
Most of them will be released fairly quickly especially if the lockout is resolved soon.