Source: Williams returning to Nats on new two-year deal

Turns out the Nationals didn’t replace Trevor Williams with Michael Soroka as it briefly appeared, because they decided to re-sign the veteran right-hander after all.

Williams and the Nats have agreed to a new two-year, $14 million deal, a source familiar with the terms confirmed this morning, the two sides reuniting after a successful 2024 season, albeit one sidetracked by a lengthy stint on the injured list.

The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt was first to report the signing.

After going 6-1 with a 2.03 ERA and 1.035 WHIP in 13 starts, Williams departed at season’s end looking to cash in as a free agent, hoping to get assurances of a full-time starter’s job. The Nationals didn’t appear likely to be able to offer that guarantee, and their subsequent signing of Soroka for $9 million before the holiday break suggested they had found their replacement for Williams.

But the possibility of a return always lingered, if someone was willing to accept a role that could shift to the bullpen at some point. Williams, who had success as a swingman with the Mets in 2022, could now find himself back in that role. Soroka, who was more effective as a reliever than starter for the White Sox this year, could also wind up in the bullpen (though in his introductory Zoom call with reporters, he said the team promised him a starter’s job).

If both Williams and Soroka make an Opening Day rotation that for now is headlined by MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin, the Nationals would be forced to send a young starter (DJ Herz or Mitchell Parker) to Triple-A Rochester to begin the season, a move that could give one of the lefties a chance to fine-tune things while waiting for a promotion. And the Nats also expect 2020 first-round pick Cade Cavalli to finally make his return from March 2023 Tommy John surgery sometime in 2025.

The guarantee of a starting job was what originally lured Williams to D.C. in 2023. The Nationals gave him a two-year, $13 million contract and a spot in their rotation. He proceeded to struggle mightily, going 6-10 with a 5.55 ERA, 1.600 WHIP and league-high 34 home runs surrendered.

With his job on thin ice when he returned for the second year of that deal, Williams transformed himself into a new pitcher this season. Working with the pitching coach tandem of Jim Hickey and Sean Doolittle, he recognized the need to keep everything down in the zone, reduce his four-seam fastball usage and deploy a newly perfected sweeper instead of the curveball he previously threw.

The results were dramatically positive. In his first 11 starts, Williams went 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA, surrendering only two homers. Manager Davey Martinez typically limited his pitch count to 80-85, pulling him before he had the chance to face the heart of an opposing lineup for the third time in a start.

“I think we learned last year that, even with a pitch I’ve had success with in the past, I kept trying to go to it. And it was getting really damaged,” Williams said during the season. “So, just try and avoid damage. That’s pitching. Try and figure out where you can not get hurt by slug. Thankfully, we were able to find that and ride that wave.”

Williams, though, reported soreness in his elbow following his final start of May, and an MRI revealed a flexor muscle strain. He landed on the injured list, and he remained there for 3 1/2 months. The Nats gave him a chance to return to make two final starts at season’s end so he’d have peace of mind entering free agency, and he picked up right where he left off, allowing one run over 10 innings against the Cubs and Phillies.

He departed at season’s end expressing a desire to return, though unsure if the opportunity would present itself.

“They’re really close,” he said Sept. 27. “I’d love to be a part of this team that wins another World Series here. I’m going to do the best I can to try to make it happen, but we’ll see what happens.”

Williams becomes the fourth major leaguer the Nationals have acquired in the last two weeks after a quiet opening two months to their offseason. He’s the first to receive a multi-year deal at this point, though first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (acquired via trade with the Rangers) is under club control through 2026. Soroka and designated hitter Josh Bell (who signed late Sunday night for $6 million) each received one-year deals.