Washington Nationals Sign 8-Year Veteran Catcher
Jorge Alfaro is back in the bigs.
The Washington Nationals signed the veteran catcher to a major league deal after he opted out of his contract with Milwaukee’s Triple-A Nashville affiliate. The move comes as the Nationals navigate injuries at the position, with Keibert Ruiz on the concussion list and Drew Millas (fractured finger) transferred to the 60-day IL.
CJ Stubbs was optioned to Triple-A to open a 26-man spot. Alfaro joins Riley Adams on the active catching depth chart.
We have made the following roster moves:
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 2, 2025
- agreed to terms with C Jorge Alfaro on a one-year contract
- optioned C CJ Stubbs to Triple-A Rochester
- transferred C Drew Millas to the 60-day IL
Why Washington Moved Now
The Nationals needed immediate help behind the plate, and Alfaro provides experience and durability. He played 82 games at Triple-A this season, hitting .244/.285/.430 with 15 home runs and 12 steals. The swing-and-miss remains (36.5% K rate), but he’s long controlled the running game in the majors with a 27.5% caught-stealing rate.
With limited calendar left, he won’t reach six full years of service in 2025, leaving a path to club control into 2026 if Washington wants it.
The Nationals have signed Jorge Alfaro, per source. He spent 88 games with the Brewers’ AAA team.
— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) September 2, 2025
An eight-year MLB vet who last played in 2023 with the Rockies and Red Sox.
What Alfaro Brings
Across eight MLB seasons, Alfaro owns a .253/.302/.393 line. Framing and blocking grades have lagged, but his arm strength and pop can still play in short spurts. If he sticks, he offers stopgap depth while Ruiz ramps back and Millas rehabs.
Washington cleared a 40-man spot by moving Millas to the 60-day IL, effectively ending his season. If Alfaro gives the Nationals even league-average defense with some occasional thump, he could hang onto a backup role into spring. If not, this still buys the club time while injured regulars recover.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
