The Nationals released Franmil Reyes and Jacob Nottingham from their minor league deals, as indicated by the transactions page for Triple-A Rochester. Reyes signed with the Nats in May and Nottingham joined the organization in early July, with neither player seeing any action at the big league level.
After hitting 92 homers with a .260/.325/.503 slash line over 1540 plate appearances with San Diego and Cleveland from 2018-21, Reyes’ production has sharply cratered over the last two seasons. He struggled so much in the first half of the 2022 season that the Guardians designated him for assignment in early August, and Reyes then went to the Cubs on a waiver claim. Chicago opted to outright Reyes off their roster after the season rather than pay a projected $6MM arbitration salary, and Reyes then landed in Kansas City on a minor league deal.
Reyes hit only .186/.231/.288 over 65 PA with the Royals, who then DFA’ed him in May, and Reyes opted to again become a free agent. Signing with the Nationals organization didn’t provide any new spark, as Reyes hit .219/.322/.383 over 149 in Rochester, electing to stay with the team despite a pair of earlier opt-out dates.
Despite all his struggles over the last two seasons, it still seems likely that the 28-year-old Reyes will catch on with another team eager to see if his power bat can be revived. The next chance might not come until 2024, however, if clubs prefer to give their younger players more playing time over the last few weeks of the Triple-A season and postseason.
Nottingham’s MLB resume consists of 53 games with the Brewers and Mariners from 2018-21, and the catcher has yet to return to the big leagues. He spent 2022 in the Orioles’ farm system and then returned to the Mariners on another minor league contract during the offseason, before getting traded to the Giants in May and released in late June. Nottingham provided Washington with some catching depth at the Triple-A level, but the Nationals will now make room for prospect Brady Lindsly, who was just promoted to Rochester on Friday.
The National’s SS, C.J Abrams, has been one of the hottest hitters in MLB for the last 6+ weeks. The Nats have improved as much as any team in baseball this year.
My oh my has this guy fallen off. Then again, he’s always been one dimensional.
Franmil, put this giant back with Renfroe on LAA. These 2 used to compete with each other in SD. Try it LAA, what’s to lose?
Not a bad Idea, Curly!
AJ has not replaced the production those two guys had the last year they played together
A lot like the Yankees favorite 4A player? Franchy Cordero.
He’ll need a good hitting coach with patience to turn his career around.
“Abraham Almonte, Come on down”. The Price is Right!
Part of the Mets Bigger Plan! Go Nats!
I do give the Mets credit for reversing course on a bad plan. A lot of owners would double down(SD, Anaheim)just to avoid admitting their mistake. I’m not a Mets fan per se, but I have to believe they’ll be MUCH better next yr. Having a rich, smart owner helps.
A bad plan? A BAD PLAN? Cohen is no longer cogent in the BB world. Colossal failure
I miss the Franimal. What happened to him?
He was a superstar spring training then a did during the season.
It’s like he forgot how to hit after 2021, and when you’re a DH 90% of the time, that’s a death sentence to a career.
I saw a spring training game in Las Vegas Reyes hit a 450ft homerun in that game. I didn’t know the Royals cut him. I hope he finds a team and starts raking for them.
Oh yes, the infamous A’s-Royals series in Vegas… one good showing that the Vegas audience would like to forget…
It was actually the Rockies and Royals.
The NPB is waiting, where you’ll be HR king every year. Come on, just accept it already.