Washington Nationals Release 7-Year Veteran Starting Pitcher

The Washington Nationals have made the decision to release right-handed pitcher Chad Kuhl.

After being designated for assignment over the weekend, Kuhl passed through waivers without being claimed by any other team.

The 30-year-old struggled in his transition to a relief role, leading to his release. Throughout the season, Kuhl struggled, posting an inflated 8.45 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, and a concerning 31/28 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 38.1 innings.

The Nationals announced that they have requested unconditional release waivers on Chad Kuhl.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) June 26, 2023

He made 16 appearances, including five starts, before being let go by the Nationals.

On Monday, the Nationals placed Kuhl on unconditional release waivers, making him a free agent. The team had signed him to a minor-league contract in February, but his performance in the majors did not meet expectations.

In a corresponding move, the Nationals called up 24-year-old relief pitcher Amos Willingham from the minors. Willingham, who had been performing well at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester, now gets his first opportunity to play in the big leagues.

With an impressive 1.90 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, five saves, and 25 strikeouts in 23.2 relief innings, he brings promise to the Nationals' bullpen.

Over his seven-year career, Kuhl has compiled a 4.98 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, while averaging 7.8 K/9 across 615 innings and 143 appearances (116 starts). Photo Credit:  Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports