Knizner signs minors deal, Willingham claimed by Braves, Alu retires

In search of more experienced catching depth, the Nationals signed veteran Andrew Knizner to a minor league deal, offering the former Cardinals backup an invitation to big league camp and a chance to compete for a major league job.

The deal, which was confirmed by a source familiar with the terms, was first reported by the Washington Post.

Knizner, who turns 30 next month, has 290 games of big league experience, most of that coming from 2019-23 with the Cardinals, where he served as the primary backup to Yadier Molina and later Willson Contreras. His career offensive numbers (a .210/.279/.317 slash line) aren’t great, but he slugged 10 homers in only 241 plate appearances in 2023 and has worked with a number of prominent pitchers from his time in St. Louis.

A native of Glen Allen, Va., who went on to play at North Carolina State, Knizner was let go by the Cardinals after the 2023 season and signed with the Rangers one year ago. He played 35 games for Texas, batting just .167, before getting claimed off waivers in August by the Diamondbacks. He finished the season playing for Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno, batting .263 with two homers and 12 RBIs.

Knizner will come to West Palm Beach, Fla., with a chance to compete for a spot on the Nationals’ Opening Day roster, but he’ll have to outplay at least two other catchers who seemingly have a leg up for the No. 2 job behind starter Keibert Ruiz.

Riley Adams has been Ruiz’s primary backup for most of the last three-plus seasons, and though he struggled to a .629 OPS last year, he was retained and agreed to terms with the Nats on an $850,000 salary for 2025, avoiding arbitration. Adams is out of options, so he can’t be sent to the minors without first being placed on waivers. And his contract is guaranteed, so the club would be on the hook for the full amount if he’s released at any point.

Drew Millas, meanwhile, had two stints in the majors last season when Adams was sent to Triple-A Rochester, including for the final six weeks of the year. The 27-year-old is considered the better defensive catcher but hasn’t seen his minor-league offensive numbers translate to the big-league level yet. He does still have options and can be sent down if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster.

Knizner ultimately could find himself joining Millas in Rochester. The only other catcher in the organization with Triple-A experience is Brady Lindsly, who will be 27 in March and has a .630 OPS in four minor league seasons.

* Amos Willingham, who was designated for assignment last weekend when the Nationals needed to clear a 40-man roster spot for newly acquired reliever Jorge Lopez, was claimed off waivers by the Braves.

Willingham had a 7.11 ERA and 1.816 WHIP in 19 relief appearances for the Nats over the last two seasons. The right-hander pitched in only one big league game in 2024, passed over by several others who got opportunities in the bullpen over the course of the season.

A native of Rome, Ga., who pitched collegiately at Georgia Tech, Willingham now gets an opportunity to pitch for his home-state franchise.

* Jake Alu officially retired from baseball, unable to prolong a career that saw him climb his way from a 24th-round pick to the major leagues thanks to strong offensive numbers in the minors.

Drafted out Boston College in 2019, Alu slashed .282/.342/.437 in parts of five seasons in the Nationals organization. He got his shot to play in the big leagues in 2023 and appeared in 51 games as a utilityman, batting .226 with two homers and 16 RBIs.

He didn’t make it back to D.C. last season, though. And now as he approaches 28, Alu has chosen to end his playing career.