The Nationals have released Stephen Nogosek, according to the right-hander’s MLB.com profile page. Nogosek signed a minor league deal with Washington during the offseason but will now return to the open market after a rough stint at Triple-A Rochester.
Over 11 appearances and 15 2/3 innings with the Red Wings, Nogosek posted a 9.77 ERA with 18 walks against only 15 strikeouts. While Nogosek’s control has been spotty over his eight pro seasons, the situation has greatly worsened in the last two seasons, as the righty also had an 18.18% walk rate over 36 combined innings at the Triple-A and Double-A levels in 2023. This issue surely contributed to the Mets’ decision to designate Nogosek for assignment last June, and why the Diamondbacks didn’t give him a look on the big league roster after signing him to a minors deal in the wake of his departure from New York.
Nogosek’s control problems haven’t really manifested themselves at the big league level, over a sample size of 57 1/3 innings in parts of four MLB seasons. Debuting with the Mets in 2019, Nogosek has a 5.02 ERA over his 33 career appearances in the Show, with an 8.9% walk rate and 22% strikeout rate. Home runs have been Nogosek’s biggest sticking point against Major League hitters, who have taken him yard 14 times over those 57 1/3 frames of work. Nogosek had generally done a pretty good job of keeping the ball in the park in the minors, yet his home run issues cropped up at Triple-A this season with five homers allowed during his brief time in Rochester.
The 29-year-old now returns to the open market in search of another minor league deal, and hopefully a fresh start in another organization. Nogosek is out of minor league options, which adds another layer of complication to his efforts to find a new contract and stick in a big league bullpen.
Patrick Corbin should be next. Should of been released 2 years ago.