2025 Transactions: Gibaut, 4 Nationals Outrighted

Given that none of the major offseason action can commence until after the 2025 World Series, transactions have been far and few over the last few days. However, this past week has seen some movement thus far. The Reds cleared one 40-man roster spot, as Ian Gibaut was outrighted. The Nationals, meanwhile, outrighted four.

Gibaut headed to free agency

The Reds outrighted reliever Ian Gibaut off the 40-man roster on October 28.

Gibaut had an interesting 2025. The right-hander received the first save opportunity for the Reds, without the then-injured former closer Alexis Diaz, this past year. It went awry, as Gibaut gave up three hits, including a home run, and four earned runs against the Giants.

He rebounded to have a good April, albeit being well out of the closer situation. Gibaut posted a 2.70 ERA across 10 innings that month. However, Gibaut dealt with shoulder problems, as well as lower whiff and well-hit ball figures.

Arguably, his best season was 2023, a year that saw him strike out 69 over 75.2 IP. He won eight games and posted a 3.33 ERA.

Nationals outright four

The Nationals outrighted four players off the 40-man roster on October 29. Catcher CJ Stubbs, as well as pitchers Shinnosuke Ogasawara, Eduardo Salazar, and Mason Thompson, were outrighted.

Salazar, previously outrighted by the Reds in 2023, and Thompson, with more than three years of experience, elected free agency.

The 27-year-old Salazar was a valuable reliever back in 2024 for the Nationals. That wasn’t the case in 2025. Salazar gave up eight home runs across 29 innings and bounced between the Majors and Triple-A Rochester.

Stubbs made his MLB debut back in September 2025. The 28-year-old spent six seasons in the Minors after he was a 10th-rounder by the Astros in 2019.

Thompson, a third-round pick by the Padres in 2016, was acquired by Washington four years ago for reliever Daniel Hudson. The 27-year-old, who showed flashes back in 2022 thanks to a hard two-seamer and plus extension, walked twelve and gave up 14 earned runs over 10.2 IP in 2025.

He was one of our non-tender candidates back in October. Instead, the Nationals moved a few weeks earlier and opted to take him off the 40-man roster early.

But arguably the most notable name was Ogasawara, signed to a two-year deal in January. The 28-year-old had a relatively successful pro career in Japan despite not being a hard thrower. However, the left-hander didn’t make the team out of camp and was sent to Rochester.

He did wind up getting some time at the MLB level this season. With Washington, Ogasawara gave up nine home runs over 38.2 IP.

Other moves

The Red Sox signed former Pirate Jason Delay to a Minor League contract.

Nick Putnam, formerly of UC Santa Barbara, signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers. Putnam was a catcher at UC Santa Barbara but only saw 10 games of action, all in 2024. The 22-year-old signed with the Dodgers as a pitcher.

With Williamsport in the MLB Draft League, Putnam struck out five and walked three over 3.1 IP. Putnam sat in 91-94 MPH with his four-seamer and 79-83 with a slider.