Barrett outrighted to Syracuse, elects free agency

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

October 26, 2016, 10:26am

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The Nationals outrighted Aaron Barrett to Triple-A Syracuse today, hoping to keep him in the organization while he recovers from his second major elbow injury in two years. The right-hander, though, instead elected to become a free agent, ending his tenure with the Nats.

Barrett had been on the 60-day disabled list all season, but clubs are required to transfer injured players back to the 40-man roster during the offseason. Not wanting to part ways with somebody else already on the roster, the Nationals instead placed Barrett on waivers over the weekend. When no other club claimed him, he officially was outrighted to the minors.

Barrett could have accepted the assignment and remained with the organization as a minor leaguer, but he enacted his right to declare free agency instead, leaving him available to sign with any franchise.

The 28-year-old was a key part of the Nats' 2014 bullpen, but tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in 2015 and required Tommy John surgery. While in the latter stages of rehab from that injury, he fractured the elbow throwing a pitch in a simulated game in Viera, Fla., in late July.

Barrett returned to Washington in late August to be examined by team doctors. He said then he was confident he'd be able to make a full recovery.

"All in all, you've just got to stay positive," he said. "There's really no other way to look at it. That's the kind of person I am. Literally, I feel like I'm going to come back stronger than ever."

Barrett will now attempt to do that with another organization.