Washington Nationals Place Former Top Prospect Pitcher On Waivers

The Washington Nationals have made a move to bolster their bullpen by promoting reliever Andres Machado from Triple-A Rochester to the active roster.

To make room for Machado, the Nationals have designated pitcher Anthony Banda for assignment, removing him from their 40-man roster.

Anthony Banda has allowed 15 of 35 batters faced this season reach base. At some point, it's fair to ask if it's worth keeping a lefty in the bullpen just for the sake of keeping a lefty in the bullpen.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) April 29, 2023

Banda has had a tough time on the mound this season, posting a 6.43 ERA and six strikeouts in 10 appearances over seven innings for the Nationals. The team has decided to move on from him and give someone else a chance to contribute.

Designating Banda for assignment means that he will now be available for other teams to claim off waivers or sign as a free agent.

The #Nationals have DFA’d Anthony Banda and selected the contract of Andres Machado, per their PR Department. pic.twitter.com/5UgMi5a2eM

— District on Deck (@DistrictOnDeck) April 30, 2023

Over his seven-year career, the 29-year-old holds a 5.69 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, with 109 strikeouts across 118.2 innings and 90 appearances.

It's a tough break for Banda, but the Nationals are hoping that Machado can help solidify their bullpen and contribute to the team's success moving forward. Photo Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports