Perhaps a pair of surprises leaving the Nationals: the team announced Friday night they have non-tendered closer Kyle Finnegan and fellow righty reliever Tanner Rainey.
Finnegan, 33, was the team’s closer last season, and while he was shopped at the trade deadline, he finished the year in DC and had a 3.68 ERA, 38 saves, and 60 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings, earning his first All-Star appearance.
He was projected to make $8.6 million in his final arbitration year according to MLB Trade Rumors’ matrix, but will now look to latch on to another team.
Rainey, 31, was a key piece of the bullpen in the 2019 championship season but missed almost all of 2023 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and returned in 2024 to post a 4.76 ERA in 51 innings. He was projected for $1.9 million after making $1.5 million in ’24, but the Nats chose to cut bait instead.
Washington still has six arbitration-eligible players to sort out, including starters Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore.