Despite two DFAs, Machado kept plugging along for Nats

PLAYER REVIEW: ANDRES MACHADO

Age on Opening Day 2024: 30

How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, February 2021

MLB service time: 2 years, 23 days

2023 salary: $720,000

Contract status: Under club control, arbitration-eligible in 2025, free agent in 2028

2023 stats: 4-1, 5.22 ERA, 44 G, 0 SV, 50 IP, 53 H, 29 R, 29 ER, 12 HR, 13 BB, 43 SO, 1 HBP, 1.320 WHIP, 83 ERA+, 5.50 FIP, 0.0 bWAR, -0.4 fWAR

Quotable: “His fastball’s electric. We’ve told him every time he’s been with us: ‘You’ve got to use it more. You put yourself in bad situations because you throw sliders, you throw changeups. The key is to get ahead and stay ahead. And when you do that, your stuff plays.’” – Davey Martinez

2023 analysis: Machado had been a fairly effective pitcher for the Nationals down the stretch in 2022, so it caught more than a few people off guard when he was designated for assignment in January, a move needed to open a spot on the 40-man roster for newly signed outfielder Corey Dickerson. But the Nats wanted to keep the right-hander in the organization, and they convinced him to return on a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp.

That all but guaranteed Machado would start the season at Triple-A Rochester, but it took less than a month for his services to be needed in D.C. Things didn’t go well. In 14 games from April 30-June 4, he posted an 8.47 ERA and 1.765 WHIP, allowing a whopping six homers in only 17 innings pitched. So the Nats did something they’d already done once this year: They designated him for assignment again.

Once again, Machado cleared waivers and elected to stay in the organization. He returned to Rochester and bided his time until his services were needed again, which happened in late July. And upon returning, he turned into a far more effective pitcher.

Over 30 appearances from July 26 through season’s end, Machado delivered a 3.55 ERA and 1.091 WHIP, reducing his home run rate (six in 33 innings) while striking out nearly one batter per inning as well. Martinez began using him as a fireman to pitch out of tight spots, and he responded with perhaps his best work since joining the franchise in the first place.

2024 outlook: The Nationals haven’t been afraid to part ways with Machado over the last calendar year, and even though he pitched well in his second stint here this season, he can’t allow himself to get too comfortable and just assume his roster status is safe heading into 2024.

If the Nats do elect to retain him, though, they surely will want to see more of what he provided in August (and, to a lesser extent, September). Machado’s four-seam fastball, and especially two-seam fastball, had extra life. Each averaged more than 96 mph, with the two-seamer boring in on right-handed hitters’ hands and at times becoming an unhittable pitch.

But he does have to locate that pitch. And he has to throw every single one of them with conviction. Machado’s biggest problem may have been his tendency to just throw a get-me-over fastball to begin an outing, which led to disastrous results. He made 44 big league appearances this season, and an inconceivable seven of them opened with a leadoff homer by the first batter he faced. He must be fully prepared to give his best the moment he takes the mound, no matter if it comes with one out and two runners in scoring position or a clean inning with nobody on base.

The Nationals have no shortage of right-handed relief options, and many of them (Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, Tanner Rainey, Jordan Weems, maybe Mason Thompson) reside higher up the depth chart than Machado. That could make him the victim of the numbers game yet again. But if he does survive the offseason and gets another chance to open the 2024 season in the majors, he needs to show he’s all-in from the start, lest he risk being let go once again.