Finnegan, again: Nats bring All-Star reliever back on 1-year deal

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Right-hander Kyle Finnegan walked into the Nationals' clubhouse at CACTI Ballpark of the Palm Beaches like no time had passed.

Finnegan is back with the only Major League team he has played for since he debuted in 2020. Same role, same uniform number, just a different locker location and an arrival two weeks later than usual.

"I always was open to the idea of a reunion,” Finnegan said Thursday. “It’s a place that I felt super comfortable and have gotten to know so many great people over the years. In the end, it made a ton of sense. I think both sides were just trying to do what was right for them.”

Finnegan, 33, became a free agent this offseason when he was non-tendered by the Nationals in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The Nats signed him to a one-year deal on Thursday. Terms of the deal were not announced, but ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported the deal is for $6 million.

To make room on the roster, outfielder Stone Garrett was designated for assignment.

"When the non-tender happened, I didn’t have any animosity,” said Finnegan. “I knew that they had the potential to be one of the teams in play. So you keep an open mind, and at the end of the day, you make the decision that feels right for you and your family.”

Finnegan was coming off his first All-Star selection and ranking third among all relievers in saves (38). He went 2-4 with a 2.45 ERA in the first half, compared to 1-4 with a 5.79 ERA in the second half for a 3.68 ERA on the season.

The Nationals stayed in touch with Finnegan as they built their roster. They had identified left-hander Jose A. Ferrer and right-hander Jorge López among the back-end options, but they didn’t have a dedicated closer.

"He knows how this works; he knows both sides of what it is,” manager Dave Martinez. “What I do know after talking to him is that he’s so happy to be back and we’re happy to have him back, we really are. We never lost contact with him. We were still in the loop with him, we wanted to see where he was at, and I’m just so happy that it worked out for us."

Finnegan, who made his Major League debut at age 28, has been one of the more consistent relievers over the past half-decade. He has a 3.56 career average across those five seasons, and his 291 appearances since his debut season in 2020 -- all with the Nats -- are the seventh most among all pitchers.

Among Nationals relievers, Finnegan ranks third in career saves (88) and games (291), as well as fourth in single-season saves.

Finnegan's 66 saves over the past two seasons were the fourth most in MLB, trailing only Emmanuel Clase (91), Josh Hader (67) and Raisel Iglesias (67). Finnegan and Clase are the only pitchers with at least 65 appearances and double-digit saves in each of the past four seasons.

“He’s unbelievable,” said Martinez. “... I really like that fact that would take the ball no matter what, and he’s always been that guy since he’s been here. Knowing that he’s back, knowing that he’s willing to do whatever, the way he presents himself on a daily basis, he’s a professional and his teammates love him.”

In the corresponding roster move to DFA Garrett, the Nationals considered their young outfield depth when making the decision. Garrett, 29, appeared in 91 games with the Nats between 2023-24. He had established a role on the team before he fractured his left fibula making a play at the right-field wall at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 23, 2023. Following a lengthy rehab, Garrrett made an emotional return to the Nationals 13 months later and pummeled a home run in his first at-bat.

“I love Stone, I do. It was tough,” said Martinez. “We’ve got three young outfielders right now; we’ve got some that are really knocking on the door. … It gives him an opportunity to go look elsewhere and hopefully get a Major League job. Selfishly, I hope he’s able to come back here because he is, and will be, another big piece because he’s a veteran guy. But as I always say, sometimes this job is tough, but I hope he lands on his feet, I really do.”