Cuts to the Washington Nationals’ MLB spring training camp have begun.
Reassigned to minor league camp or optioned to Triple-A Rochester are some of the top prospects and others who were anticipated to compete for Opening Day roster slots. Additionally, more adjustments will be made shortly as March 26 draws nearer.
Richard Lovelady, however, was one victim of a late roster addition. The New York Mets have claimed the seasoned left-handed reliever off waivers after he was designated for assignment when starting pitcher Zack Littell was signed.
Mets Claim Richard Lovelady off Waivers
The Mets have announced that Lovelady will return for a second term with the franchise. He signed a one-year major league contract with New York last summer, which was his first. However, since then, relations between the two parties have remained erratic.
Following his debut with the Mets, Lovelady was DFA’d. After choosing free agency, he signed a new MLB contract. After five appearances, he was once more indicated for assignment before his contract was eventually chosen. Before the Nationals claimed him off waivers on January 29 of this year, he was DFA’d twice more.
Over the course of the previous season, the southpaw pitched in eight games for New York and gave up seven earned runs on ten hits in ten innings. He walked four and struck out nine, but he wasn’t reliable enough for them to keep him in their bullpen for too long. He will now have another opportunity to open the 2026 season as a bullpen piece for the Mets.
What Nationals Lose With Lovelady Being Claimed
It wasn’t unrealistic to believe Lovelady could play a role in Washington’s bullpen when they initially added him to the mix. Despite his difficulties with New York last year, he is a seasoned pitcher who would have brought experience to a team that ended the previous season with the worst ERA in the major leagues.
In fact, Lovelady did fairly well this spring as well. In his four appearances, he pitched four innings, struck out seven batters, walked four, and gave up just one earned run on four hits. He appeared to be arguing for a position on the roster based on his performance. But in order to make way for Littell, the decision-makers chose to DFA him.
In general, Lovelady’s absence won’t hurt the Nationals too much. With PJ Poulin, Cionel Perez, and Ken Waldichuk all doing well so far and either having higher ceilings or better records versus major league hitters, they have a variety of lefties to select from.
Therefore, even though losing Lovelady to a division foe isn’t ideal, Washington still has time to decide who should be on this relief staff for Opening Day.
