Nationals Part Ways With Reliever Kyle Nicolas Following DFA

The Washington Nationals have released right-handed relief pitcher Kyle Nicolas after placing him on waivers last week. Washington initially designated the reliever for assignment to clear roster space when acquiring Reiver Sanmartin from the San Francisco Giants, ending Nicolas' short tenure in the Nationals organization without making a major league appearance.

Nicolas arrived in Washington via a July deal with the Baltimore Orioles, a transaction that marked the first trade between the neighboring franchises in twenty years. Assigned to Triple-A Rochester, the hard-throwing righty posted a 3.27 ERA with a 29% strikeout rate. However, persistent control problems—headlined by an 18.7% walk rate in Triple-A—prevented him from getting a call-up to the big-league roster.

Selected out of Ball State in the Competitive Balance Round, Nicolas has pitched parts of four major league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. Over 105 1/3 career innings in the majors, he has logged an ERA just under 5.00. While his arsenal features 98-99 mph fastball velocity paired with a power slider and curveball, command issues have hindered his trajectory, including a 14% walk rate against MLB hitters.

Because Washington opted for a full release rather than keeping Nicolas in their farm system, the move opens the door for him to pursue new opportunities. What to watch next: Nicolas will now look toward free agency, with potential interest from overseas clubs as an option for his next career step.