Since I last wrote about the state of the Nationals' bullpen in January, the team has made a couple of significant moves addressing the lack of depth. The biggest move the team made regarding the pen recently was resigning Kyle Finnegan. After the Nationals non-tendered him early in the offseason, Finnegan found himself back on the team on a significantly cheaper contract after failing to sign anywhere else. The Nationals also signed LHP Colin Poche (who is on a minor league deal) and RHP Lucas Sims to contend for spots in the bullpen and also designated LHP Joe La Sorsa for assignment in the process.
Looking at the current Spring Training roster, there are 13 players who are vying for (probably) 8 spots in the bullpen. Let's start with the players who are all but guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster. Kyle Finnegan was an All-Star in 2024, had 38 saves, which was good for second most in the National League, and may be the closer to start the year. Derek Law has yet to pitch in Spring Training this year, but all signs point to him returning to the roster in 2025. Jorge Lopez was signed during free agency and is set to play a key role in the bullpen this year. Jose A. Ferrer left a good impression on the team last season and will be the go-to lefty out of the pen.
After those four pitchers, it gets a little murky in terms of who is going to make the Opening Day bullpen. Evan Reifert was a Rule 5 draft pick out of the Tampa Bay Rays organization and must stay on the active roster for the entire season, or else the Rays can take him back, so he will likely make the roster, although he has had a very rough spring so far, posting an 11.12 ERA in 5.2 innings. RHP Orlando Ribalta has been very impressive this spring, with 0.00 ERA in 7.1 innings and 10 strikeouts, all but ensuring he will make the team. Eduardo Salazar has been just as impressive, also having a 0.00 ERA in 7.2 innings with 9 strikeouts, which will get him a spot in the bullpen. Lucas Sims has had an iffy spring, but his past success coming out of the bullpen and his nasty pitches will keep him in heavy consideration for a bullpen spot. Colin Poche signed a minor league deal with the Nationals in early February and might have a leg up on the competition due to the lack of left-handed pitching in the bullpen. Poche had a disastrous outing in his first spring appearance, but hasn't allowed a baserunner since.
Another factor that will be taken into consideration for a bullpen spot is how the rotation will look at the start of the season. MacKenzie Gore, Mike Soroka, Jake Irvin, and Trevor Williams are all locks to be in the rotation to start the year, which leaves Mitchell Parker, DJ Herz, and Shinnosuke Ogasawara to battle it out for the last rotation spot. Parker has had a solid spring and is easily the frontrunner for the final rotation spot. Herz has struggled to find the strike zone thus far and Ogasawara has been batting practice for opposing hitters, so if they aren't optioned to AAA Rochester to start the season, one of them could take the last spot in the bullpen as a long reliever.
Final Bullpen Projections: RHPs Kyle Finnegan, Jorge Lopez, Eduardo Salazar, Orlando Ribalta, Lucas Sims, Evan Reifert; LHPs Jose A. Ferrer, Colin Poche