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Washington Nationals' New Pitcher Set to Make Debut, Vet Released
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- Washington Nationals' New Pitcher Set to Make Debut, Vet Released
(Benny Sieu-Imagn Images)
The Washington Nationals announced two more pitching moves on Tuesday afternoon, including another veteran departure along the bullpen to end his four year stint with the organization.
Days after claiming right handed pitcher Matt Waldron , the Nationals officially activated him on Tuesday night in the latest addition to the bullpen. Waldron arrived looking for a fresh start after making ten appearances with the San Diego Padres in 2026, his fourth season with the club, and owning a 7.16 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 28 strikeouts across 32.2 innings. Waldron was then claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays where his brief appearance lasted just four games this month, allowing all five earned runs over his latest two appearances through 2.1 combined innings.
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Waldron has posted a career 5.29 ERA and 1.34 WHIP while allowing 233 hits across four seasons and 229.2 innings pitched.
Manager Blake Butera revealed postgame on Tuesday that Waldron is expected to make his Nationals debut on Wednesday, but to make room on the roster, the Nationals also announced that 34 year old veteran right handed reliever Trevor Williams has been designated for assignment. He becomes the third veteran to depart after the organization also moved on from both Miles Mikolas and Zack Littell earlier this month, though the timing of the release is also notable given Williams also recently hit the ten year mark of service time like Mikolas, a respectable gesture by the organization.
Williams has allowed earned runs in two of his last three appearances, but it also marks the only two appearances where he has allowed an earned run after posting 11.2 scoreless innings in 2026. It marked an encouraging return after Williams saw his struggling 2025 season cut short after suffering a torn UCL in July 2025, sidelining him for almost exactly one full year.
Williams joined the organization ahead of the 2023 season after signing a two year deal worth $13 million, struggling in his first season with the team before leading the Nationals' pitchers with a 2.6 WAR in 2024. He also recorded a career-best 2.03 ERA and 1.04 WHIP after tossing 59 strikeouts in 66.2 innings and 13 total appearances.
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Yet his departure also comes as the Nationals look to turn the page to some of the new faces through the rest of the 2026 regular season with all eyes on what moves president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and the front office make to upgrade the roster's biggest weakness.
