The Washington Nationals had an off day today, and given the fact that they are about to kick off a series against the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, getting the extra day of rest as they settle in on the west coast had to be refreshing for the team. The second half has been full of mixed results as most of you reading this already know, but things can turn around very quickly.
Nationals ink Buddy Kennedy to minor league deal after Giants DFA
Given how the 2026 season has played out for one of the newest members of the Nationals' organization, he might be hoping for things to turn around quickly for him as well. That player would be 27-year-old infielder Buddy Kennedy, who found his way into free agency after being designated by assignment by the San Francisco Giants a few days ago.
After a 48 game stint in AAA this year, Kennedy had shown Giants brass that he deserved another chance in the major leagues. He posted a .321/.424/.543 slash line, good for a .967 OPS, and even added 8 homers and 33 RBIs. Additionally, he walked as much as he struck out at the level with 27 apiece, showcasing his strong natural approach helping to boost his on-base percentage.
He then was given a look in the majors by both the Giants and Seattle Mariners, but his cumulative numbers in parts of 25 games at the big league level were pretty underwhelming. He had just a .116/.224/.140 slash line, good for just a .364 OPS in 25 total games. Nonetheless, Kennedy will now help the Rochester Red Wings in their pursuit of postseason success, especially given they recently lost Yohandy Morales to the Nationals as a September call-up. With guys like Seaver King also having a shot at debuting this season, more depth was necessary.
Kennedy's overall numbers in the majors across parts of 5 seasons dating back to 2021, and he has already appeared in the majors for 6 different teams. If the Nationals end up calling him back up to the majors at some point, they would be his 7th team, making him an absolute cheat code for anyone who enjoys playing Immaculate Grid as much as I do. It is a bit of an uninspiring signing at this point of the season, but in case something goes awry, the Nationals have some more organizational insurance.
What do you think of the Nationals signing Buddy Kennedy to a minor league deal? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.
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