Conceding $8 million mistake, Nationals release Rosenthal

For one fleeting moment Friday night, the Nationals thought Trevor Rosenthal had turned the corner and could finally become a trusted member of their bullpen. But then came yet another high-profile meltdown on the mound Saturday night, and so by Sunday morning, the team made the move that had loomed for months but was put off until now.

The Nationals released Rosenthal today, finally conceding defeat on a reclamation project that went haywire in the season's first week and never could be salvaged despite countless attempts.

"He put the work in. We put the work in. We tried to get him right, and just things didn't work out," manager Davey Martinez said. "So it was time for us to move on."

The Nationals, who made Rosenthal the majors' first free agent signed over the winter, are responsible the right-hander's entire $7 million salary, plus a $1 million buyout of a $10 mutual option that had been in place for the 2020 season.

The 29-year-old hadn't pitched in a competitive game since August 2017, when he blew out his elbow with the Cardinals and subsequently needed Tommy John surgery. He threw in a showcase before dozens of scouts last October, and Jay Robertson (one of general manager Mike Rizzo's trusted veteran eyes) immediately called his boss and recommended the Nationals sign him.

The Nationals planned for Rosenthal to serve as their top setup man and backup closer to Sean Doolittle, banking on a return to his pre-injury All-Star form in St. Louis. But he opened the season in disastrous fashion, failing to retire the first nine batters he faced, seven of those coming around to score to leave him with an ERA of infinity.

The Nats were able to place Rosenthal on the injured list with what they called a "viral infection," then took advantage of the 30-day rehab process to get him back on the mound in minor league games in an attempt to get himself right. Once that month expired, they activated him back onto the big league roster and hoped for the best.

The initial results were encouraging: Rosenthal pitched his first two scoreless innings of the season, but each came in blowouts. Martinez decided to finally give him a shot in a high-leverage situation Friday night, with the tying run on third and two out in the eighth inning, and the righty responded by retiring Braves slugger Austin Riley.

"I was very hopeful that he had turned the corner," Martinez said today.

But when another opportunity - up four runs in the seventh - arose Saturday night, Rosenthal reverted back to his worst form. He walked three straight batters and was unceremoniously yanked in favor of Tanner Rainey, who immediately walked in a run and then allowed a three-run double to Freddie Freeman to leave the game tied.

"Yesterday, in that particular moment, I had Rosenthal. That was the guy," Martinez said. "We get through the sixth inning, I had no second doubts about putting him into that game. We're up four runs. He's the guy. It didn't work out. So we move forward."

Rizzo, the man most responsible for signing Rosenthal, declined requests to be interviewed today through a team spokesman.

Rosenthal learned of his fate in a meeting in Martinez's office this morning. He departed the clubhouse before it was open to reporters, leaving behind a locker full of gear and other personal items.

"It was tough," Martinez said of the conversation. "Whenever you got to let go of somebody, it's tough. But a guy like Rosey, who I got to appreciate a lot, it's really tough. But he was very professional."

Rosenthal's release opened a spot for Austin Voth to be recalled from Double-A Harrisburg so he can start today's series finale against the Braves. The Nationals also swapped out another pair of right-handers, promoting Kyle McGowin and demoting Joe Ross back to Triple-A Fresno after the latter gave up four runs in the eighth inning of Saturday's 13-9 loss.

Thus continued the Nationals' odd development of Ross this season from a starter to a reliever to a starter to a reliever and now back to a starter. He had thrown five scoreless innings for Fresno on Monday and appeared to be in line to start today's game, but the club called him up Thursday and made him available out of the bullpen because of a need for fresh arms during this six-games-in-five-days stretch.

Ross, who sports an 11.05 ERA in 17 big league games this season (all in relief), now heads back to Fresno to continue working as a starter.

"When he came up here, we told him he was going to pitch out of the bullpen, because of out of necessity we need an arm," Martinez said. "Yesterday, he came in in a moment where he had the bottom of the order. Thought it would be good for him. It just didn't happen. We want him to start. Our fifth starter's spot right now is still what it is. So he's going to go down there and continue to get some length and start and see where we're at."