Needing to clear roster spot, Nats cut ties with Espino

CINCINNATI – The Nationals cut ties with Paolo Espino today, requesting unconditional release waivers on the veteran right-hander in one of a series of transactions prior to their series finale against the Reds.

The Nats also reinstated Trevor Williams from bereavement leave and activated Israel Pineda off the 60-day injured list and subsequently optioned the now-healthy catcher to Double-A Harrisburg. They already had cleared a spot on the active roster for Williams, optioning reliever Amos Willingham to Triple-A Rochester following Saturday’s game. But they needed to make another move to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Pineda, and Espino was the unfortunate victim.

“It’s always hard, because I’ve known Paolo for quite some time now,” manager Davey Martinez told reporters at Great American Ball Park. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s been really good, a very positive guy. Working with these guys, getting to know them, getting to know their families, it’s always tough when you have to let them go.”

Espino was on the 15-day injured list with a sprain in his right ring finger after a ragged relief appearance in Chicago three weeks ago. In three big league games this season, the 36-year-old right-hander was charged with 11 runs and 14 hits in only four innings, a disappointing final act for what had been an uplifting story when he first joined the team.

A journeyman who had pitched for four different organizations from 2007-19 but appeared in only 12 major league games for the Brewers and Rangers during that time, Espino was called up from the Nationals in September 2020 to make two late-season appearances. He then was called up again in April 2021 to make a spot start for an injured Stephen Strasburg and wound up staying on the big league roster through the end of the 2022 season.

Versatile enough to start, pitch long relief or even close at one point, Espino became a popular member of the staff and earned the nickname “The Secret Weapon” from Martinez after he recorded his first (and only) career save on June 23 in a wild, 13-12 win at Philadelphia.

Espino maintained a sub-3.00 ERA into July 2021 but then faltered later in the season once he was moved to the rotation on a full-time basis. He proved a far better reliever than starter, posting a 2.81 ERA in 50 appearances out of the bullpen from 2020-22, as opposed to a 5.18 ERA in 39 starts.

“He had some good years for us,” Martinez said. “Filled a much-needed void for us as a starter, as a reliever. Tremendous person, great guy. As you know, we’re trying to move forward with some of our younger players, and we needed a roster spot, so that was the move we made. But I wish Paolo all the best. I don’t know what’s going to happen to him in the next few days, but he’s a good one and I appreciate everything he’s done for us.”

Williams rejoins the active roster after a week on bereavement leave, with Joan Adon taking his turn in the rotation Saturday and turning heads with a dominant performance in which he carried a perfect game into the sixth inning. That performance earned Adon the right to remain with the Nationals for now, though his role moving forward is unclear.

The Nats announced Williams will start Monday’s series opener against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, with Josiah Gray, MacKenzie Gore and Patrick Corbin to follow, each getting an extra day of rest.