Nationals snag pitcher who was on the verge of heading to the KBO

The Nationals have signed right-hander Spenser Watkins, as revealed by Watkins himself in a statement on X (via the account of his agency, Gaeta Sports Management).  Reports from earlier this week suggested that Watkins was close to a deal with a KBO League team, yet as Watkins explained in his statement, he chose to stay in the United States due to the upcoming birth of his daughter in January.

Watkins, 31, pitched in only one Major League game in 2023, allowing five runs over 4 1/3 innings in a start for the Athletics on Aug. 15.  The rest of his season was spent at the Triple-A level, with Watkins delivering a 7.86 ERA over 71 combined innings for the top affiliates of the A’s, Astros and Orioles.

A 30th-round pick for the Tigers in the 2014 draft, Watkins didn’t make his MLB debut until 2021, when he had caught on with the Orioles on a free-agent deal.  The right-hander posted an 8.07 ERA over 54 2/3 frames for Baltimore that season, and then a 4.70 ERA in 105 1/3 innings in 2022.  All in all, that translates to a 5.97 ERA in 164 1/3 career innings for Watkins in the Show, as well as a 13.9% strikeout rate and 6.9% walk rate.

Working as a starter in 31 of his 40 MLB games and in 122 of his 149 career minor league games, Watkins projects as a depth arm at the Triple-A level.  The Nationals are known to be looking for pitching this winter, and while the team will keep looking for more proven upgrades, depth arms like Watkins are a useful commodity to eat innings.

The type of contract between Watkins and the Nationals wasn’t specified, though it would seem likely to be at least a split contract since Watkins is out of minor league options.  If Washington feels it has better use for a 40-man roster spot near the end of spring training, this could put Watkins in danger of being designated for assignment, though he could just opt to remain in the organization if he clears waivers.  Watkins was outrighted off of Oakland’s 40-man roster last August, so he can now reject any future outright assignments in favor of free agency.