Injuries & Moves: Veterans Davies and Barnes add to pitching depth
LATEST NEWS
Feb. 17: RHP Zach Davies agrees to Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training
Davies, 31, is a nine-year veteran with a career record of 60-58 and a 4.36 ERA. He made 18 starts for Arizona last season (2-5, 7.00) and was released on Sept. 29. The Nationals plan to stretch out Davies, who has made 200 career starts, as they build pitching depth.
“Here’s a guy that’s been a very competitive guy in his career, understands how to get people out,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He knows himself really well. He’s not a guy that’s going to throw 100 miles an hour, but he’s very effective, and we liked him. So we’re going to allow him to come here and stretch him out a little bit and see where he’s at.”
Martinez hopes Davies will arrive in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday and undergo a physical on Monday.
Feb. 17: RHP Jacob Barnes signs Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training
Barnes, 33, was 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA in 13 relief appearances last season with the Cardinals. An eight-year veteran, Barnes also has pitched for the Brewers, Royals, Angels, Mets, Blue Jays, Tigers, and Yankees.
Feb. 15: RHP Mason Thompson sidelined for two weeks by an elbow issue
Thompson experienced elbow discomfort during an offseason bullpen session earlier this month. Facing batters throwing at full speed for the first time this winter, the reliever hoped he was just feeling fatigued. The discomfort, however, continued a few days later. Manager Dave Martinez said the team is “a little bit concerned” for Thompson, who had Tommy John surgery in high school, and the staff will “take it slow with him.”
“I’ve had Tommy John before, so the feeling wasn’t new,” Thompson said. “I don’t know necessarily if that’s where it’s headed, but I know that it’s felt a little bit more than just your usual soreness.
“Mentally it’s hard,” Thompson added. “You work all offseason to get here, and then right before you get here you get shut down again. So that part’s frustrating. Last year didn’t exactly go the way I wanted it to, so not getting that opportunity to kind of show the work that I put in this offseason was frustrating. But I’m optimistic to get through this, whatever that looks like at this point.”
INJURY UPDATES
RHP Cade Cavalli (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Mid-2024
Cavalli has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions three days a week in his return from Tommy John surgery last March. (Last updated: Feb. 14)
OF Stone Garrett (fractured left fibula)
Expected return: Spring Training
Manager Dave Martinez is hopeful Garrett, who fractured his left fibula making a play at the right-field wall on Aug. 23 at Yankee Stadium, will be ready for Opening Day. (Last updated: Feb. 14)
RHP Stephen Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome)
Expected return: TBD
Strasburg is not in camp, but the Nationals have invited him to join the team in a veteran presence role.
“He is not in baseball rehabilitation mode. He’s just trying to get his body back into shape where he could live his life,” said general manager Mike Rizzo. (Last updated: Feb. 14)
