The Washington Nationals have begun trimming their MLB spring training roster, sending several top prospects and potential Opening Day candidates to Triple-A or minor league camp.
Among those affected was veteran left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady, who was designated for assignment following the signing of starter Zack Littell and has now been claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.
This marks Lovelady’s return to the Mets, a team he has bounced between multiple times over the past year.
Since signing a one-year deal last summer, he’s been designated for assignment several times, elected free agency, re-signed, and spent time with the Nationals before returning to New York.
In eight games last season with the Mets, he allowed seven earned runs over 10 innings, striking out nine and walking four, showing flashes but lacking consistent performance.
For Washington, losing Lovelady is not a major setback. Despite a strong spring performance—allowing just one earned run over four innings while striking out seven—he was cut to make room for Littell.
The Nationals have other left-handed options such as PJ Poulin, Cionel Perez, and Ken Waldichuk, all of whom bring either higher ceilings or more consistent track records.
While the departure of Lovelady to a division rival isn’t ideal, it doesn’t significantly impact the Nationals’ plans for their bullpen heading into Opening Day.
