Headlines

  • Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment
  • Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Braves Select Craig Kimbrel
  • Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox
  • White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel
  • Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Trevor Williams To Open Season In Nationals’ Rotation

By Anthony Franco | January 2, 2025 at 10:46pm CDT

The Nationals brought Trevor Williams back on a two-year, $14MM free agent deal this week. The veteran righty spoke with the Washington beat (including Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post and Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com) this afternoon and indicated he’ll be part of Dave Martinez’s rotation.

While that’s not surprising in isolation, it potentially sets up a camp battle if Washington sticks with a five-man staff. They signed righty Michael Soroka to a $9MM deal to work as a starter. The Nats are also bringing back four pitchers who started at least 19 games last season: Jake Irvin, MacKenzie Gore, Mitchell Parker and DJ Herz.

All four of those returning arms had productive campaigns. Gore is a former top prospect who posted a 3.90 earned run average while striking out nearly a quarter of opponents across 32 starts. He’ll certainly be in the rotation. Irvin led the team with 187 2/3 innings and turned in a 4.41 ERA with decent underlying metrics. The 27-year-old righty did seem to wear down in the second half, as he allowed a near-6.00 ERA after taking a 3.49 mark into the All-Star Break. He still seems likely to be a starting pitcher himself.

If Washington wanted to begin the year with a five-man staff, that could leave Parker and Herz battling for a job if everyone comes through Spring Training healthy. Herz showed more swing-and-miss ability, fanning nearly 28% of opponents with a 12.9% swinging strike rate in 19 starts as a rookie. The southpaw’s 9.4% walk rate was the highest of any of Washington’s starters, though. Herz has had far more worrisome walk numbers in the minors, including a massive 19% clip over 10 Triple-A starts last year.

Parker, 25, profiles as a steadier back-end arm. He made 29 starts during his debut campaign and turned in a 4.29 ERA through 151 innings. He struck out 20.6% of opponents against a tidy 6.7% walk percentage. Parker doesn’t throw quite as hard as Herz does and doesn’t miss bats at the same rate, but he looks the part of a league average starter.

Washington used a six-man rotation when Williams returned from injury late last season. Patrick Corbin, who is now a free agent, was on hand in the role that Soroka would play this year. That’d be the simplest solution if all six starters are available on Opening Day. Each of Gore, Irvin, Parker and Herz have minor league options, though, so the Nats could send anyone from that group to Triple-A if they wanted to move to a five-man staff.

Prospect Cade Cavalli will be in the mix after missing nearly two full seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. Nusbaum writes that Cavalli, who made his big league debut with one start in 2022, is likely to open the year in the minors. That’s designed to allow the team to monitor his workload since he has only thrown 8 1/3 minor league innings over the last two years. Cavalli is expected to factor into the MLB staff at some point in the season.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Washington Nationals Cade Cavalli DJ Herz Jake Irvin MacKenzie Gore Michael Soroka Mitchell Parker Trevor Williams

Details On Corbin Burnes Contract
Main
Which Teams Can Still Use Nolan Arenado?
View Comments (22)
Post a Comment

22 Comments

  1. Reynaldo's

    5 months ago

    Will Patrick Corbin ever pitch in the majors again?

    2
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      5 months ago

      He’s a durable although not effective arm so yes he will.

      Reply
      • GooseGoslinGuy

        5 months ago

        He’s never hurt! His arm always stayed healthy! He never missed a start! Of course, he lost velocity and became a 5.00 ERA pitcher. OTOH, that seems to define “innings eater.” I say yes, he winds up somewhere. I even think the Nats could bring him back as a reliever, given that lefty relievers are hard to find.

        Reply
        • believeitornot

          4 months ago

          He missed some starts due to a mysterious back injury. However, I doubt he was even hurt. The nationals probably just didn’t want him to lose 20 games.

          Reply
    • draker

      5 months ago

      If he does I’ll be changing the channel as always.

      1
      Reply
    • alcameron

      5 months ago

      Nats giving him 10 mill this year anyways. Might as well sign him for league min as insurance to eat up innings

      Reply
    • rct

      5 months ago

      Last year, Corbin had a 4.41 FIP across 32 starts and 174.2 innings with 7.2 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. In 2022, Jordan Lyles had a 4.40 FIP across 32 starts and 179.0 innings with 7.2 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. Lyles was rewarded with a two year, $17 million contract from the Royals.

      If you need a durable arm to just eat innings and you don’t care about winning, Corbin’s your guy. Someone will sign him.

      2
      Reply
    • VA/NC Orioles

      5 months ago

      My guess is he ends up with the Angels if he gets a job. While ineffective he was at least able to post which has some value.

      Reply
    • desertball

      5 months ago

      Giants have done well with former top starter reclamation projects. As have some other teams. He’ll find a job…

      2
      Reply
  2. believeitornot

    5 months ago

    Think they should begin with 6 starters.

    1
    Reply
  3. AlistairC

    5 months ago

    The baseball gods seem to dislike 6-man rotations, often causing injuries, loss of control or power, and possibly even the yips in one or more pitchers whenever it’s attempted.

    2
    Reply
    • VA/NC Orioles

      5 months ago

      One off the wall suggestion I would make to teams with 6 man rotations would be to have there starter on a pen day throw a lower leverage clean inning in lieu of a light pen. Teams would secure more value from these players than having them appear 28 times a season. 17% team appearances vs. 34% sounds a heck of lot more valuable to me (assuming 28 starts).

      1
      Reply
  4. Ignorant Son-of-a-b

    5 months ago

    How could Gore have minor league options left? Seems like he’s been around awhile, and I’m sure the Padres had him up and down a couple times.

    Reply
    • JCA-CrystalCity

      5 months ago

      Added to the roster after 2021. First season in the majors was 2022. While he was optioned after camp, he was called up 9 days later, so the option wasn’t burned. After a somewhat helter skelter hot then cold start of the year, he developed blisters on his finger and was placed on the 15 day I:L. Nats never activated him after they made the big Josh Bell and an outfielder deal with SD, Pitched the entire 2023 and 2024 with the Nats (with just an IL stint at the end of 2023), so burned an option after his first call up.

      1
      Reply
  5. dcftw

    5 months ago

    I would hope the Nats wouldn’t sign a light throwing long reliever for 7 mil a year, but I guess anythings possible.

    From watching both guys a lot last season I think Parker showed us what he is, a solid number 4 type starter. Herz has the potential to be a lot more, and a lot less, than that.

    1
    Reply
  6. Tom Emansk1

    5 months ago

    Complete nonissue. They could sign another couple starters and it’s still a nonissue. None of those guys should be above playing a swingman role (although Williams, Soroka, and maybe Gore should have the inside track on a rotation spot as vets).

    1
    Reply
    • NattyLites

      5 months ago

      How? All of them were solid MLB starters and young. No reason to retard their progress in order to accommodate dead end older starters.

      Reply
      • GooseGoslinGuy

        5 months ago

        THIS! The Nats 4 young starters are all in the ascent and, assuming all are healthy, should be given automatic starting slots. A LOT of potential in those guys. I see Williams as the fifth guy, with Soroka a total wild card but probably headed for the bullpen based on his 2024 results. If somehow Soroka recaptures his 2019 stature, then it’s gravy and the Nats have a desirable problem.

        Reply
  7. Nats ain't what they used to be

    5 months ago

    Sure seems by FA hires that Nats are happy to let young core get one more year closer to being FA without ever competing or locking them up long term. Looks like playing for 4th in NL East is their long term goal. Yippee.

    3
    Reply
    • nanyuanb

      5 months ago

      Understand your feeling. But the young core you referred to has not been (or proved to be ) the kinda core like Bregman-Altuve-Correa-Valdez. And NLE is so competitive that signing a big name FA could not win them the 1st or 2nd in NLE. Can you imagine the current team winning in the playoffs, even if they have a Burnes and/or Snell? They are just not Soto-calibre core, who tortures the opposing pitchers in his first year of big league and playoff. So 2025 will be about the growth of the young core no matter what. And it is a pricy FA market to go for win-now mode.

      The Nats are just a 1B,a 3B ,an ace SP and CL away from an all star team if the young core filling the other positions develops into the core you imagine. 3B can be filled by House and 1B is easy to be filled by internal/external helping hands.

      About locking them up long term, again, the unproven young men has not shown long-term value. CJ has gambling issue. Wood might be a ROY but he might not sign a long term contract when his prospect is so bright. Crews just has not shown his hitting capability. Garcia might be the only one that I think NATS can possibly sign him long term at a bargain price.

      Soroka and Williams could be valuable trading chips come next July. 2026 could be the year they trade for an ace and maybe sign another.

      2
      Reply
      • NattyLites

        5 months ago

        True…of course this is assuming everything else falls in place (Wood, Crews, Gore all taking another step, Garcia and Young maintaining performance, Ruiz bouncing back, Abrams not self destructing, etc)

        Reply
  8. GooseGoslinGuy

    5 months ago

    Nats are an interesting team, despite holes that need plugging. If their young starting staff takes a serious step forward…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

    MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

    Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

    Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

    Padres Interested In Jarren Duran

    Royals Promote Jac Caglianone

    Mariners Promote Cole Young, Activate Bryce Miller

    2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: May Edition

    Evan Phillips To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    AJ Smith-Shawver Diagnosed With Torn UCL

    Reds Trade Alexis Díaz To Dodgers

    Rockies Sign Orlando Arcia

    Ronel Blanco To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Joc Pederson Suffers Right Hand Fracture

    Recent

    Diamondbacks Select Kyle Backhus, Designate Aramis Garcia

    Athletics Acquire Austin Wynns

    Julio Rodriguez Helped Off Field Following Apparent Injury

    Astros Designate Forrest Whitley For Assignment

    Twins Place Zebby Matthews On 15-Day IL, Reinstate Danny Coulombe

    Rays Promote Ian Seymour

    Angels Notes: Soler, Trout, Stephenson

    Mets Sign Julian Merryweather To Minor League Deal

    Brian Snitker Discusses Raisel Iglesias, Closer Role

    Giants Outright Sam Huff

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version