Washington Nationals claim former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher off waivers

Jan 29, 2026 (6:50 PM)

Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Washington Nationals have added left-hander Richard Lovelady to their bullpen mix, hoping his electric Triple-A stuff finally translates to the big leagues.

This is a low-risk, potential high-reward move that fits the front office's modus operandi perfectly.

Mike Rizzo is constantly churning the bottom of the roster to find hidden value.

Richard Lovelady (Drafted Round 10, 2016 by Royals) arrives with a stat line that requires a deeper look.

On the surface, his 8.49 ERA in the majors last season looks rough.

But the underlying numbers tell a completely different story about his potential.

In Triple-A last year, Lovelady was absolutely dominant, posting a sparkling 1.66 ERA and striking out 40 batters in just 38 innings.

He clearly has the stuff to miss bats, he just needs the consistency to do it at the highest level.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the team had to make a tough call.

Mickey Gasper (Drafted Round 27, 2018 by Yankees) was designated for assignment to clear the spot.

It’s a brutal business, especially since Gasper was only claimed by Washington a week ago.

Gasper struggled at the plate in 2025, hitting just .158 with the Twins, which likely made him expendable.

The priority right now is clearly pitching, pitching, and more pitching.

Lovelady gives the manager another southpaw option to match up against the dangerous left-handed hitters in the NL East.

If he can replicate even half of his minor league dominance, this waiver claim will look like a stroke of genius in July.

As fans, we know you can never have enough reliable arms in the bullpen.

Let’s hope Lovelady is ready to seize this opportunity and stick around.

Previously on Toronto Baseball Insider

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JANVIER 29\|183 ANSWERS Washington Nationals claim former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher off waivers Do you trust Mike Rizzo to find a hidden gem in Richard Lovelady?
Yes	39	21.3 %
No	144	78.7 %
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