{"id":94422,"date":"2025-01-23T16:42:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T21:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=94422"},"modified":"2025-01-23T16:43:26","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T21:43:26","slug":"kyle-finnegan-free-agency-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/01\/23\/kyle-finnegan-free-agency-rumors\/","title":{"rendered":"Teams Looking to Sign Former Nationals All-Star in Free Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the free agent reliever market heats up, longtime Washington Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan could be the next to sign. The 33-year-old was surprisingly non-tendered by Washington in November after recording a 3.68 ERA and 38 saves last season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Teams Looking to Sign Former Nationals All-Star in Free Agency<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/finneky01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kyle Finnegan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> received <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/15\/kyle-finnegan-all-star-replaces-ryan-helsley\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">his first All-Star selection<\/a> last season, and his 38 saves finished second among National League relievers (third overall). He sports a three-pitch arsenal and relies heavily on a four-seam fastball that, at 97.2 mph, has <a href=\"https:\/\/baseballsavant.mlb.com\/savant-player\/kyle-finnegan-640448?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ranked in the top 10%<\/a> for three consecutive seasons. Finnegan has posted a sub-4.00 ERA in five straight seasons while topping 60 innings over the past four. But his 22.1% strikeout rate fell below the league average for relievers last season, while his 8.9% walk rate was right at the league average. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite not being an overpowering pitcher, MLB insider Robert Murray recently reported that the right-hander\u2019s market has \u201cpicked up significantly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">With numerous free-agent relievers coming off the board recently, right-hander Kyle Finnegan\u2019s market has picked up significantly. Finnegan, 33, was surprisingly non-tendered by the Nationals after recording a 3.68 ERA and 38 saves last season.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ByRobertMurray\/status\/1882461082801066239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With most big-name free agents already off the board, there are several teams still seeking high-leverage relievers, and Finnegan\u2019s name is at the top of the list. One team that has reportedly already been in contact with Washington\u2019s former closer is their National League rival, Chicago Cubs. Chicago made a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/13\/kyle-tucker-astros-cubs-deal\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">blockbuster trade<\/a> for All-Star outfielder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tuckeky01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyle Tucker<\/a> but are still without a reliable closer. One of <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JesseRogersESPN\/status\/1866215980466356575\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Cubs goals this offseason<\/a> is to add more experienced relievers to the back end of their bullpen. Having lost out on <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/01\/19\/all-star-reliever-signs-dodgers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">closer Tanner Scott<\/a>, Finnegan would be a solid addition for Chicago and at half the price. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/mlb\/player\/market-value\/_\/id\/47064\/kyle-finnegan\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spotrac predicts<\/a> the 33-year-old to sign a two-year deal worth $25 million this offseason.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Ex-Nationals All-Star Kyle Finnegan Drawing Interest from Multiple Teams<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the Cubs, Finnegan has also been linked to the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Like Chicago, all three teams lack a reliable high-leverage arm at the back of their bullpen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Los Angeles Angels<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Los Angeles is looking to rebuild their pitching staff following their franchise-worst season last year, losing a record 99 games. The Angels traded now-free agent closer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/e\/estevca01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carlos Est\u00e9vez<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/27\/phillies-acquire-angels-closer-carlos-estevez\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">the Phillies at the deadline<\/a> but lacked an adequate replacement. While home runs have been an issue for Finnegan in recent seasons, a short-term contract similar to Est\u00e9vez\u2019s two-year, $13.5 million contract would be a welcomed addition.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Toronto Blue Jays<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toronto had arguably one of the most disappointing seasons in the majors last year, having finished 14 games under .500. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One clear pain point for the Blue Jays last season was their bullpen which combined for a 4.82 ERA, the second-worst bullpen ERA in the majors. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite adding <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/garciyi01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yimi Garc\u00eda<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hoffmje02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jeff Hoffman<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to their bullpen, the Blue Jays are <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/01\/blue-jays-jordan-romano-free-agency\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">still without a closer<\/a> after non-tendering longtime closer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/romanjo03.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jordan Romano<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in November. Their offseason has finally started to take shape, having signed longtime Orioles slugger <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/santaan02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Santander<\/a> earlier this week. Toronto needs a closer to round out their bullpen and Finnegan could be the perfect high-leverage, low-cost option available.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Arizona Diamondbacks<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arizona has had a relatively quiet offseason outside of signing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/burneco01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corbin Burnes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/28\/corbin-burnes-signs-diamondbacks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">six-year, $210 million contract<\/a> in December. While his addition rounds out a solid Diamondbacks rotation, their bullpen is still lacking. After their first World Series appearance in 22 years, Arizona had the National League\u2019s third-worst bullpen and narrowly missed the final Wild Card spot last season. The Diamondbacks lack a closer, and while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/martiju01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Justin Martinez<\/a> may be their closer of the future, they need someone experienced. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finnegan, who ranks eighth in all-time saves in Nationals history with 88 career saves, certainly fits the bill. Despite a brutal finish last year, Finnegan could be a solid fit for Arizona or any bullpen-needy teams this winter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credits: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the free agent reliever market heats up, longtime Washington Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan could be the next to sign. The 33-year-old was surprisingly non-tendered by Washington in November after recording a 3.68 ERA and 38 saves last season. Teams Looking to Sign Former Nationals All-Star in Free Agency Kyle Finnegan received his first All-Star [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4975,"featured_media":94464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1071,19],"tags":[326,28572,156,2262,36],"class_list":["post-94422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","category-nationals","tag-arizona-diamondbacks","tag-kyle-finnegan","tag-los-angeles-angels","tag-mlb-free-agency","tag-toronto-blue-jays"],"modified_by":"Evan Mazza, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4975"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94422"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94467,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94422\/revisions\/94467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}