Washington has declined its 2016 options on right-hander Casey Janssen and outfielder Nate McLouth, making both players free agents.
Janssen gets a $1.5 million buyout instead of a $7 million option after throwing 40 innings with a 4.95 ERA in a setup role. He was the Blue Jays’ primary closer from 2012-2014 and was supposed to replace Tyler Clippard in the Nationals’ bullpen, but instead he missed the first six weeks of the season with a shoulder injury and mostly struggled at age 33.
McLouth missed the entire season following shoulder surgery, so giving him a $750,000 buyout instead of a $6.5 million option was a no-brainer. He’s topped a .700 OPS just once since 2010 and is now 34 years old, meaning he may have to settle for a minor-league deal this offseason.
