Nationals sign struggling right-hander to minors contract

The Nationals have signed right-hander Zach Davies to a minor league deal, Andrew Golden of the Washington Post reports (X link).  Davies’ contract includes an invitation to the Nats’ big league Spring Training camp.

Now entering his 10th Major League season, Davies is looking to rebound after a difficult 2023 campaign.  The righty posted a 7.00 ERA over 82 1/3 innings in Arizona’s rotation, with subpar secondary metrics almost across the board.  Injuries also limited Davies’ playing time, as separate IL stints for an oblique strain and back inflammation cost him roughly 10 weeks of action.  The Diamondbacks designated Davies for assignment and then released him just before the end of the regular season, giving him an early jump on free agency.

Davies posted a 3.79 ERA over 683 2/3 innings and 123 starts with the Brewers and Padres from 2015-20, developing a reputation as a solid back-of-the-rotation type.  Never a big strikeout pitcher or a hard thrower, Davies nevertheless found success with a formula of limited walks and hard contact, plus an outstanding changeup that was quietly one of the best pitches in baseball.

Unfortunately for Davies, the formula stopped working during a rough 2021 season with the Cubs, though he rebounded to some extent in 2022 with a 4.09 ERA over 134 1/3 innings for the D’Backs.  That performance earned him another one-year contract from Arizona last offseason, and all told, Davies earned $7.9M over his two seasons as a Diamondback, counting base salaries, buyouts, and a few incentive clauses.

With that 2021-22 turnaround in mind, it stands to reason that the 31-year-old Davies might be able to again bounce back, especially if he stays healthy.  Returning to his 2022 numbers would be a nice result for both Davies and the Nationals, as it would put the right-hander in line for another guaranteed contract next offseason, and Washington would benefit from having a solid veteran presence in the rotation.

The rebuilding Nationals have Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore as the younger centerpieces of their rotation, with sophomore Jake Irvin and veterans Patrick Corbin and Trevor Williams filling out the rest of the starting five.  Former top prospect Cade Cavalli is expected to return around midseason from Tommy John surgery, and former first-rounder Jackson Rutledge and rookie DJ Herz are also expected to contribute some innings.  Davies is the most clear-cut starting candidate of Washington’s minor league signings, which include such names as Robert Gsellman, Adonis Medina, and Spenser Watkins.

There isn’t much certainty within that group, so between inconsistency and injuries, Davies would seemingly have a pretty good shot at making the Opening Day roster.  Since D.C. isn’t likely to be in contention, any of Davies, Williams, or (if the Nats eat most of his remaining salary) Corbin stand out as possible trade candidates at the deadline, if the Nationals want to clear some rotation space for Cavalli and the other more inexperienced pitchers down the stretch.