Washington Nationals DFA 6-Year Veteran Pitcher

The Washington Nationals made a roster move that pushed veteran reliever Richard Lovelady off their 40-man roster. 

Washington designated the left-hander for assignment shortly after officially finalizing their one-year contract with right-handed starter Zack Littell, a deal that required an immediate roster spot. 

Lovelady had only been with the Nationals since late January after the team claimed him off waivers from the New York Mets, but his stay in Washington ended quickly as the club tweaked its pitching staff ahead of the season.

Nationals DFA Richard Lovelady After Littell Signing

Washington signed the veteran starter, Littell, to a one-year $7 million deal that could reach $9.5 million through incentives, while also including a mutual option for 2027. 

Littell earned the opportunity after delivering strong production over the last few seasons, including a 3.81 ERA across 32 starts last year and a 3.67 ERA since moving into the rotation in 2023.

Washington Nationals signed veteran Zach Littell for $7 million, designating Richard Lovelady to make room. ⚾️

Lovelady had a disappointing 2025 ERA of 21.60 but showed improvement in spring with an ERA of 2.25. 📈 pic.twitter.com/xLWksdcKpi

— unumihai Media (@unumihaimedia) March 10, 2026

Because Lovelady is out of minor league options, the Nationals could not simply send him to Triple-A. 

Instead, he now enters the DFA process, where Washington has five days to either trade him or place him on waivers. If he clears waivers, the Nationals could attempt to stash him as depth in their minor league system.

Richard Lovelady’s MLB Career Has Been a Roster Carousel

The Nationals initially hoped Lovelady could compete for a bullpen role this spring. 

The 29-year-old lefty even showed some promise in camp, allowing just one run while striking out seven hitters across four innings. However, roster competition and Littell’s signing ultimately pushed him out of the picture.

Nationals designate Richard Lovelady for assignment to make room for Zack Littell.

Lovelady had 7 strikeouts in 4 spring innings but is out of options.

Trade or waivers next.

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) March 10, 2026

Lovelady has frequently bounced around rosters in recent years. 

During the 2025 season, he appeared in games for both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Mets, allowing 11 earned runs over 11.2 innings. Across his major league career, he owns a 5.35 ERA in 111 innings, though his underlying numbers in the minors have been far more impressive. 

In Triple-A, Lovelady has posted a 2.61 ERA with a 26.9 percent strikeout rate across more than 175 innings, which is why teams often take chances on him for bullpen depth.

With Lovelady now off the roster, the Nationals will wait to see if another club claims the left-hander or if he clears waivers and remains in the organization. 

Given his history of bouncing between teams, including the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Blue Jays, and Mets, it would not be surprising to see another club take a low-risk look at the veteran reliever.

Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images