The Nationals are going to select the contract of left-hander Tom Cosgrove, reports Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The Nats have an open spot on the active roster as they put right-hander Brad Lord on the 15-day injured list yesterday with left side tightness and didn’t make a corresponding move. The 40-man roster is full, so the Nats will have to open a spot there.
Cosgrove, 30, was just acquired from the Astos a week ago. He had begun his season with Houston on a minor league deal. He logged 29 1/3 Triple-A innings with a 4.30 earned run average and an average-ish 21.3% strikeout rate. However, he walked 21 of the 136 batters he faced, an awful 15.4% pace. He also hit nine batters, so it was actually 22% of opponents getting a free pass to first base.
Despite that concerning lack of control, the Nats sent cash considerations to the Astros and picked Cosgrove up. He has since made one appearance for Triple-A Rochester, putting up a zero while striking out three of the five batters he faced.
Cosgrove doesn’t throw especially hard, averaging in the 87-89 mph range with his four-seamer and sinker, but he pitches from a low slot that has occasionally worked on hitters. With the Padres in 2023, he posted a 1.75 ERA in 51 1/3 innings. That was the result of some good fortune, as his .205 batting average on balls in play and 84.6% strand rate were both to the fortunate side. Regression hit hard in 2024, as Cosgrove posted an 11.66 ERA in 14 2/3 innings.
He was designated for assignment in 2025 and flipped to the Cubs. He only made two appearances for Chicago as they mostly kept him in the minors. He was outrighted off the roster in September and became a free agent at season’s end, which led to his aforementioned deal with the Astros.
Washington doesn’t have a good bullpen in general, as their relief corps has a collective 5.04 ERA, which is better than just three other teams. In terms of the southpaw contingent, Mitchell Parker and Richard Lovelady have been two of the main arms but both landed on the injured list recently. Parker will likely require Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the season. Lovelady has a triceps strain and a less clear timeline.
Since those injuries, the Nats have been trying to bolster that part of the roster. They picked up Cosgrove, claimed Matt Krook off waivers and signed Konnor Pilkington to a minor league deal. At the big league level, they currently have Krook, PJ Poulin and Carson Palmquist in the lefty group. They will add Cosgrove in there today.
The Nats are 48-46 and four games out of a playoff spot. If they hang in the race, perhaps they can make some more moves to address the bullpen before the August 3 deadline. Though if they fall back, they would become more likely to trade pitching away.
Photo courtesy of Jim Rassol, Imagn Images
