WASH: Marlins grab a couple of former Nationals in free agency
A couple former Washington Nationals players have signed contracts with a division foe.
One is a former first round pick of the Washington Nationals and the other is a former backup catcher for the team from DC. They both have bounced around the league a little, but now will be making their way back to the National League East.
The Miami Marlins have announced they have signed pitcher Ross Detwiler and catcher Sandy Leon.
Detwiler, who was drafted by the Nationals in the first round of the 2007 draft, signed a major league contract. Having made his debut the same year he was drafted (albeit throwing just one inning in one game), Detwiler spent parts of seven years in DC.
His best season came in 2012 when he made 27 starts and had a 10-8 record with a 3.40 earned run average for the National League East Division Champions. Detwiler pitched six innings and didn’t allow an earned run in his lone playoff start against the St. Louis Cardinals that postseason.
In his days since leaving, Ross the Boss has appeared in games with six other major league teams, and now latches on with another.
Sandy Leon will have to fight for his job as unlike Detwiler, his contract comes with no guarantees. The standard minor league contract with invitation to spring training is what takes Leon to South Beach.
Leon was signed as an amateur free agent by the Nationals in 2007 and made his debut in 2012. Leon was nothing more than a depth piece who was called into action when injuries arose, playing in just 34 games over the course of three years. He was sold to the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2015 season.
In 2016, Leon boasted career numbers in his first semi-regular playing time. He hit .310 with 17 doubles in 78 games. His performance waned in the following years, though he did hit .500 in six at-bats during the 2018 World Series, where he walked away with a championship ring.
Next. Yadiel Hernandez hits wherever he goes. dark
After a year in Cleveland he hit the open market before the Marlins swooped in and signed the veteran catcher. With Jorge Alforo and Chad Wallach on the 40-man roster already, Leon will have a hard time cracking the opening day lineup.