Nationals sign 3.65 ERA reliever who was cut by Mets and drafted by Pirates originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Washington Nationals signed a former New York Mets reliever on Friday morning.
Will Sammon of The Athletic reports that right-hander Max Kranick has signed a contract with the Nationals. Sammon adds that the deal is pending a physical.
Kranick, 28, was non-tendered by the Mets in November after posting a 3.65 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 24 relief appearances (37 IP). He walked just five batters in those outings.
Tommy John Surgery in 2022 hindered Kranick’s development with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the organization that drafted him in the 11th round in 2016.
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“Kranick isn’t going to be ready to jump right into the mix, however. He threw for teams back in January and was said at the time to be targeting a second-half return from the injured list,” Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors wrote Friday. “Once the deal is finalized, he’ll presumably need to work through a throwing progression and then go through a lengthy minor league rehab stint.”
Kranick is out of minor league options, so if the Nationals promote him at any time, they will have to keep him on the roster if they don’t want to risk losing him to the waiver wire.