The Washington Nationals have inked a contract with right-handed pitcher Luke Farrell on a minor league agreement, according to MLB.com. While he has initially been assigned to Triple-A Rochester, there is a possibility that he could make an appearance in the major league camp.
Farrell, who will turn 33 in June, spent the previous season in the White Sox organization after signing a minor league contract. During his time with Triple-A Charlotte, he pitched for 55 innings across 37 games, including seven starts. Throughout this period, he recorded an earned run average (ERA) of 5.56, along with a 20.1% strikeout rate, a 10.4% walk rate, and a 39.7% ground ball rate.
Although he did not make it to the major leagues last year, Farrell has previous experience at that level. From 2017 to 2022, he played for the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Minnesota Twins. During this time, he maintained an ERA of 5.00 across 102 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate of 23.3% during this period was close to the league average, but he also had a walk rate of 11.7%.
Heading into the 2024 season, the Nationals are expected to have one of the weaker pitching staffs in the league. While young pitchers like Josiah Gray, MacKenzie Gore, and Jake Irvin will continue to receive opportunities in the rotation, their career ERAs have ranged from 4.00 to 5.00. Patrick Corbin has one year remaining on his contract, but his ERA has been above 5.00 for the past three years. Trevor Williams, who is halfway through a two-year deal, posted a 5.55 ERA last season. Although the bullpen does have a few reliable arms, the team’s focus on rebuilding may lead them to consider trading any reliever who performs well during the summer.
Throughout his career, Farrell has served as both a starting pitcher and a reliever, and he fulfilled both roles last year. Given the likelihood of the Nationals needing additional innings over the course of a long season, Farrell may be called upon at some point. If he does join the roster, he will be out of options and would need to be removed from the 40-man roster if the team decides to take him off the active roster.