The Nationals announced Friday that theyve signed left-handed reliever to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. He was non-tendered Luis Torrens Jersey by the Rays earlier in the winter. Poche, 31, has spent his entire big league career with the Rays to this point. Hes pitched in parts of four seasons, logging a collective 3.63 ERA with a sharp 27% strikeout rate, a 9.2% walk rate and a 30% ground-ball rate. His best season came in 2023, when he to sed 60 1/3 innings of 2.23 ERA ball while fanning about one-quarter of his opponents and i suing walks at a 9.8% clip. Strong as Poches track record is, the 2024 season clearly wasnt his best. He spent time on the injured list due to back and shoulder troubles, ultimately pitching only 37 1/3 innings. Poches 3.86 ERA was still solid, but his 21.6% strikeout rate was a career-low mark, while his 1.69 HR/9 rate was the highest of his career. Poches four-seam fastball, which averaged 92.9 mph in his first three big league seasons, sat at just 91.2 mph in 2024, further suggesting that he wasnt right physically. His slider was down about 1.5 mph from peak velocity, too, sitting at an average of 83.1 mph. Unsurprisingly, given the reduced stuff, he allowed more contact, recorded a career-low swinging-strike rate and saw opponents produce career-best exit velocity and hard-hit rates against him. The always cost-conscious Rays opted to move on a year early rather than pay Poche a in his final season of club control. If Poche is back to full strength, he should have a good chance to not only make the Nationals bullpen but pitch in a key role. Hes been a high-leverage setup man for in Tampa Bay throughout his career, logging 81 holds and a dozen saves in 225 career appearances (208 1/3 innings). Washingtons bullpen is lacking in experienced lefties and, more broadly, just experienced relievers in general. and are the only two Nats relievers with even two years of MLB service. Only one other, , even has one full year of service time. Tyrone Taylor Jersey