Kyle Finnegan is the latest Washington Nationals veteran to leave DC, headed to Detroit in exchange for RHPs Josh Randall and RJ Sales.
Randall, 22, was the Tigers’ third-round pick in 2024. He spent most of this season at Class-A Lakeland, going 5-5 with a 4.18 ERA in 75 1/3 innings over 16 starts. He also made one appearance at High-A West Michigan, allowing just one unearned run in five innings.
Sales, 22, was the Tigers’ 10th-round pick last year and was 4-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 66 1/3 innings over 16 outings (15 starts) at Lakeland.
Finnegan, who has spent his whole career in the Nats organization, returned last winter on a one-year, $6 million deal after being non-tendered following his All-Star 2024 season. The 33-year-old had a 4.38 ERA, 20 saves, and 32 strikeouts in 39 innings over 40 appearances.
Per Andrew Golden, who covers the Nats for WaPo, Washington had deferred $4 million of Finnegan's salary into two future payments, $2 million each in 2027 and 2029 - and the Tigers will pick up a pro-rated portion of both of those deferred payments as well as the remainder of Finnegan's actual salary this season.