Aaron Barrett is now a free agent.
After being placed on outright waivers by the Washington Nationals, right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett has cleared waivers and become a free agent.
Barrett, 28, has had a rash of bad luck on the injury front over the past two seasons.
In 2015 an injury forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery late in the season. While rehabbing from the surgery, he fractured his elbow and needed another surgery.
Barrett is reportedly scheduled to begin throwing again in a few weeks, but this decision by the Nationals speaks to their belief that he won’t be ready to make any real contribution, anytime soon.
The team had hoped he would accept an assignment to their triple-A team after clearing waivers but refused the assignment and elected to free agency instead.
Barrett was a vital member of the Nationals bullpen in 2014 and 2015. He posted a combined 3.47 ERA in 70 innings over those two seasons.
This move clears a spot on the Nationals 40-man roster.
