The Nationals are in settlement on a minor league contract with right-hander Logan Verrett, per the team’s official transactions log. He’ll add some further depth each within the rotation and the bullpen this coming season.
Verrett, 31, has spent elements of three seasons within the Majors, showing with the Rangers, Mets and Orioles between the 2015-17 seasons. He’s totaled 150 innings on the sport’s prime degree, working to a 4.62 ERA with a 17.7% strikeout charge, a 9.5% stroll charge and a 43.7% ground-ball charge. He additionally spent the 2018 season with the KBO’s NC Dinos, the place he made 29 begins however struggled with a 5.28 ERA in 155 frames.
Most not too long ago, Verrett was with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate in 2021, pitching 114 innings of 4.74 ERA ball whereas exhibiting excellent command (3.4% stroll charge) and a below-average strikeout charge (18.6%). He’s had points retaining the ball within the yard within the Majors (1.50 HR/9), and that was once more a problem for Verrett in Tacoma final season (1.82 HR/9), however that standout stroll charge was his lowest since 2012 — his first skilled season after being taken by the Mets within the third spherical of that summer time’s draft.
Verrett has appeared in elements of 5 Triple-A seasons and has a 4.51 ERA by 412 2/3 innings in what has usually been a really hitter-friendly setting. The Nats have loads of want for some upper-level depth, as their present rotation is missing in certainty. Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin give them a pair of high-priced, high-profile arms in want of a bounceback in 2022 (Strasburg health-wise, Corbin performance-wise).
Behind that duo is prime prospect Josiah Gray, who was acquired within the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner blockbuster final summer time. Proper-hander Joe Ross is a strong choice if wholesome, however his 2021 season ended with a slight UCL tear in August (which didn’t require surgical procedure). Swingmen Erick Fedde and Austin Voth, 2021 minor league signee Josh Rogers, 35-year-old journeyman Paolo Espino and prospect Joan Adon are among the many subsequent choices up on the 40-man roster, whereas Jefry Rodriguez provides them one other considerably skilled non-roster invitee to camp. The Nats certainly hope that 2020 first-rounder and prime prospect Cade Cavalli will probably be prepared ahead of later, however the 23-year-old struggled in six Triple-A begins late final 12 months after breezing by Class-A Superior and Double-A.
