Washington Nationals Announce Multiple Offseason Roster Decisions

On day one of free agency, the Washington Nationals announced a flurry of transactions that have finalized the 40-man roster ahead of the offseason.

Left handed reliever PJ Poulin has cleared outright waivers and been assigned outright to Triple A Rochester. Given he enters the offseason eligible for minor league free agency, Pouln has elected to do so and now becomes a free agent. Poulin appeared in 35 games in 2026, tossing 25 strikeouts across 36.2 innings while owning a 2.70 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He also allowed 27 hits and four home runs as a National.

Ken Waldichuk has also cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple A Rochester. Across five appearances and 9.1 innings pitched in 2026, Waldichuk owned a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP while allowing half of the eight hits allowed to materialize into home runs. The Nationals announced that Waldichuk had the option to declare free agency and has elected to do so.

After being claimed in January, Richard Lovelady will also end his time with the organization after clearing outright waivers and being assigned to Triple A Rochester. The team also announced that he has elected to utilize his option to declare for free agency. In 2026, Lovelady posted a 4.23 ERA and 1.92 WHIP across 27.2 innings pitched and 32 appearances.

Paxton Schultz, meanwhile, will begin the offseason elsewhere after being claimed off outright waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. Schultz posted a 6.40 ERA and 1.70 WHIP while tossing 32.1 innings across his 27 appearances in an inconsistent season with the Nationals. Yet he was one of two pitchers to be claimed off waivers after Mitchell Parker will stay in the division, being claimed off outright waivers by the Atlanta Braves. Parker struggled mightily in 2026 after posting a 6.58 ERA and 1.49 WHIP, losing the closer competition to Clayton Beeter, who also struggled through 2026.

The team also announced that both catcher Drew Millas and right handed relief pitcher Matt Waldron have been reinstated from the 60 day injured list, while Jose Tena has been designated for assignment. Owning a negative WAR in 2026, Tena posted seven home runs and 25 RBIs across 114 appearances, in addition to owning a .222 batting average and .672 OPS. The Nationals announced that following the slew of roster moves, the team enters the offseason with the 40-man roster at its limit ahead of a handful of arbitration-eligible players to resolve this offseason.