Workhorse Law should remain valuable member of 2025 bullpen

PLAYER REVIEW: DEREK LAW

Age on Opening Day 2025: 34

How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, February 2024

MLB service time: 5 years, 81 days

2024 salary: $1.5 million

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible, free agent in 2026

2024 stats: 7-4, 2.60 ERA, 75 G, 1 SV, 90 IP, 82 H, 31 R, 26 ER, 7 HR, 24 BB, 76 SO, 1 HBP, 1.178 WHIP, 155 ERA+, 3.32 FIP, 1.9 bWAR, 1.1 fWAR

Quotable: “He’s been incredible. I’ve said this before: He does not like when I give him days off. He always says he pitches not as good when he does have days off. He wants to be out there all the time. … He loves to pitch. I don’t know if he’s joking or not, but oftentimes he asks me if he can start. I take it as a joke, but you never know with him.” – Davey Martinez

2024 analysis: Though they offered a big league contract to only one of them (Dylan Floro), the Nationals signed a bunch of experienced big league relievers to minor league contracts heading into spring training. And the one who appeared from the outset to be the best find of the group was Derek Law, who surprisingly was non-tendered by the Reds despite a 3.60 ERA in 54 games last year. The Nats happily swooped in and signed him to a non-guaranteed deal, understanding he would almost certainly make the Opening Day roster as long as he was healthy.

Law proved to be the ultimate bullpen workhorse. He became the Nationals’ first pitcher to appear in 75 games since Wander Suero in 2019. He became their first pitcher to total 90 relief innings since Tyler Clippard in 2010. And he did that despite spending the last two weeks of August on the injured list with a flexor strain in his elbow. He even pitched both ends of a doubleheader days after returning to the active roster in September.

Initially viewed as a middle reliever who could get out of a jam and perhaps return to pitch another inning, Law gradually worked his way toward the back of the bullpen. That was a function both of his performance, his struggles with inherited runners and the trades of Floro and Hunter Harvey in July. But he made sure those departures didn’t hurt the club at all, finishing with 17 holds and a sparkling 1.62 ERA after the All-Star break.

2025 outlook: The beauty of Law’s bargain-basement signing last spring was the fact the Nationals were getting two years of club control. Though he’s already 34, Law won’t accrue enough service time to reach free agency until after the 2025 season. So he’s set to return next year, with a modest salary increase likely, perhaps something in the range of $3 million. The Nats should happily pay that for another 75 appearances.

Davey Martinez did learn a thing or two about Law’s usage as the season played out, especially when it comes to summoning him for a mid-inning pitching change. Though he excelled at stranding inherited runners last season in Cincinnati (only two of 26 scored), he was among the worst in the league at that supposed skill this season, allowing a staggering 21 of 30 to score in the first half alone.

Martinez finally picked up on that disturbing trend and adjusted his usage after that. Law inherited only six runners after the All-Star break and allowed only two of them to score. When given a chance to start a clean inning, he was outstanding, and often efficient enough to come back to pitch a second frame as well.

With Kyle Finnegan returning, the Nationals have their designated closer for 2025. General manager Mike Rizzo figures to be in the market for at least one more proven setup man, perhaps even someone who could step in to close if something happens to Finnegan (someone who fits Harvey’s profile). Law, though, should be viewed as the next right-handed setup man after that on the depth chart. Plan to use him primarily in the seventh inning, and if he continues to excel, don’t be afraid to move him to the eighth as Martinez did this year.