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Free agency officially opened at 9 a.m. EST on October 29, putting the Washington Nationals' offseason plans into motion. With pitching upgrades a clear priority, president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and his staff acted swiftly, completing their first transaction of the winter.
The Nationals announced that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Braxton Roxby off outright waivers from the San Francisco Giants. In a corresponding move, right-hander Zak Kent was designated for assignment.
While the move may not grab headlines, it fits the pattern of low-level acquisitions the front office pursued last year under Toboni. Roxby, 27, presents an intriguing profile. He went undrafted and climbed to the majors this past season, earning his debut on the strength of a high strikeout rate throughout his minor league career. Over 215 relief appearances and 296 innings in the minors, he recorded 375 strikeouts while posting a 4.04 ERA and holding opponents to a .214 batting average.
Roxby appeared in four games for the Giants last season, allowing two earned runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two, resulting in a 12% strikeout rate (13th percentile) and an 8% walk rate (60th percentile). However, TJStats graded his stuff as above average. As a primary sweeper and slider thrower who also uses a four-seam fastball, his sweeper earned a TJStuff+ rating of 108 and his four-seamer 104. In a larger sample at Triple-A, Roxby posted a 102 TJStuff+ overall, with his sweeper at 108, slider at 105, and four-seamer at 100.
Whether Roxby can carve out a role in Washington's 2027 bullpen remains to be seen, but taking a flier on him while moving on from Kent—who had a 5.68 ERA in nine appearances with the Nationals last season—makes sense at this stage of the offseason. Bigger moves are expected later, but Washington is officially on the board with its first acquisition.
Key Analysis
The Nationals' decision to claim Roxby reflects a strategic emphasis on adding pitching depth with minimal financial commitment. Roxby's minor league strikeout numbers and promising pitch grades suggest potential, even if his brief major league showing was mixed. Moving on from Kent, who struggled in limited action, clears a roster spot without significant loss. This early move signals that the front office is actively exploring avenues to bolster the pitching staff, likely with more impactful additions to come as the offseason progresses.