Aaron

Barrett

Barrett made the announcement on his personal Twitter account that he will make his final professional appearance on Monday, July 4 for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 34-year-old righty will hang up his cleats after 10 seasons. He spent four years in the majors with the Nationals. His last big-league appearance came during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Barrett did not appear in the majors last season but rolled to a 2.13 ERA and 50/18 K/BB ratio in 38 innings between three different levels of the Nationals’ minor league system. The 34-year-old should get a look in Philly at some point during the 2022 season, assuming it eventually gets underway.

Of the 10 reassignments, the only surprise is Parra, who looked like he might’ve had a shot to break camp on the big-league roster as a reserve outfielder. Yet, the Nationals decided to go with versatile utilityman Hernan Perez instead.

Barrett said he felt something after throwing in early February and simply had to “get it cleaned up.” The 33-year-old was looking to make the Nationals as a non-roster invitee, but the odds are stacked against him at the moment. The right-hander has a career 4.02 ERA, 2.88 FIP, and 10.46 K/9 in 74 career innings, but has thrown just 3.3 over the past two seasons.

Barrett was outrighted off the Nationals’ 40-man roster at the end of the regular season and elected to become a free agent, but the two parties have now worked out a new deal for the 2021 campaign. The 32-year-old right-hander holds a career 4.01 ERA, 1.365 WHIP, and 86/33 K/BB ratio in 74 total innings at the MLB level.

The 32-year-old was sent outright to Triple-A Fresno earlier in the week, but refused the assignment and will look for work elsewhere. He finished the regular season on the injured list with a right triceps strain, but he’s expected to be fully recovered and ready to go for the start of spring training.

The 32-year-old hurler made two appearances for the Nationals in 2020 -- registering a 10.80 and 2.40 WHIP over 1 2/3 innings -- before landing on the injured list in September with a right triceps strain. He’ll continue to serve as organizational bullpen depth.

Barrett suffered the injury while making an appearance last Friday night against the Marlins. The 32-year-old right-hander finishes the 2020 season having allowed two earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings.

Barrett is still dealing with soreness after leaving Friday’s doubleheader against the Marlins due to tightness in his triceps. Either way, he’s unlikely to do much the rest of the way.

Barrett had hit Garrett Cooper and walked Jesus Aguilar to begin the eighth inning before exiting due to the injury. Brock Holt then came on to pitch and allowed both of those inherited runners to score. It’s unclear how much time Barrett may miss, but Nationals’ skipper Dave Martinez said after the game that he couldn’t live with himself if he left Barrett in the game. Expect an update on his status on Saturday.