Nationals, Luis Perdomo agree to minor league contract

The Nationals are in agreement with pitcher Luis Perdomo on a minor league deal with a spring training invite, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. The right-hander returns to the affiliated ranks after spending the 2023 season in Japan.

Perdomo, 30, has appeared in parts of six big league campaigns. The bulk of that experience came with the Padres, who carried him as a Rule 5 pick in 2016. Perdomo got a decent amount of run as a starter with San Diego early in his career. He moved to the bullpen by 2019 and turned in the best year of his career, working to an even 4.00 ERA through 72 innings.

An elbow injury necessitated Tommy John surgery late in 2020. That marked the end of his time in San Diego, as the Friars released him that offseason. He spent the following year rehabbing before returning to the majors with the Brewers. Perdomo pitched in 14 contests with Milwaukee in 2022, allowing 3.80 earned runs per nine, before signing with NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines last winter.

While Perdomo’s time in Japan was relatively brief, he had a strong season. He made 53 appearances with the Marines and worked to an excellent 2.13 ERA. That was in spite of a modest 19.6% strikeout rate. Perdomo never missed many bats at the MLB level, instead relying on a mid-90s sinker to keep the ball on the ground at a lofty 57.6% clip.

Washington has taken a few fliers on non-roster relievers lately. Luke Farrell, Adonis Medina, Stephen Nogosek, Richard Bleier and Robert Gsellman have also inked minor league pacts within the last 10 days.