Report: Doolittle signing one-year deal with Reds

The chances of Sean Doolittle's return to D.C. already looked slim after the Nationals signed All-Star left-hander Brad Hand last week. Today, that chance became nonexistent after Doolittle reportedly agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Reds.

That agreement, first reported by The Athletic, gives Doolittle an opportunity to re-establish his career in Cincinnati after a rough 2020 season in Washington that was derailed by injuries and diminished velocity.

Unable to throw his trademark high fastball in the mid-90s as he did during the 2017-19 seasons, Doolittle was roughed up by opponents. He gave up runs in four of his first five appearances, put nine of the first 18 batters he faced on base and served up three homers. That landed the 34-year-old left on the injured list with right knee inflammation.

Doolittle used his two weeks off not only to get healthy but to work on his throwing mechanics. And when he returned to the active roster in late August, he looked like a new pitcher.

Commanding his fastball in all four quadrants of the strike zone and relying more on his rarely used slider and changeup, he found success again. In five appearances, he allowed only four batters to reach base, only two via hit, and none for extra bases.

But then an oblique strain brought his season to an abrupt halt, offering only a limited sample of his work for the Nationals to gauge his chances for long-term effectiveness.

In the end, the Nats felt they needed more of a sure thing at the back end of their bullpen. They signed Hand, the best available reliever on the free agent market this winter, for $10.5 million and plan to use him along with returning right-handers Daniel Hudson, Will Harris and Tanner Rainey to pitch the late innings this season.

Though it ended on a down note, Doolittle's time in Washington will be remembered with far more fondness. Acquired from the Athletics along with Ryan Madson for Blake Treinen, Jesús Luzardo and Sheldon Neuse in July 2017, he helped turn what had been a disastrous bullpen into a decided strength by season's end.

Over the next 3 1/2 seasons, Doolittle posted a 3.03 ERA, a 1.037 WHIP and 75 saves (tied with Rafael Soriano for third-most in club history behind Chad Cordero and Drew Storen). He was selected to the All-Star team in 2018, finished a league-high 55 games in 2019 and had a 1.35 ERA and three saves in 12 total appearances during the 2017 and 2019 postseasons.