Nationals Release Right-Handed Reliever Following His DFA

However, before the start of the campaign, the Nationals optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Rochester. They later recalled him to the big league roster on April 20, and he made three appearances during that stint. He was solid once again with just one earned run allowed on four hits across four innings with three strikeouts and two walks, but Washington sent him back down to the minors before they designated him for assignment and eventually released him.

This decision is an interesting one. Fernandez had good numbers with the Nationals in his handful of major league outings, and considering this bullpen is volatile when it comes to performance, deciding to outright release him is a bit strange. However, this new regime didn't add him to the organization back in 2025, so they might not view him as a long-term piece of their puzzle. And since they had to make a corresponding move to claim the high-upside Lara off waivers, they must have felt it was best to cut ties with Fernandez.

Other Depth Bullpen Options for Nationals

One of the reasons why Washington might have been comfortable enough to part ways with Fernandez is the fact that they have quite a few depth options down in Triple-A already. Of course, Riley Cornelio is the first one who comes to mind since he has been called up for two big league stints this year. But there are others at Rochester, too.

Andre Granillo hasn't had success this year, but he has MLB experience. Cole Henry could be added back to the major league bullpen at any time. So could Zak Kent after he made his big league debut. And if the Nationals were really in a bind, they could turn to Andry Lara, Zach Penrod and others who aren't on the 40-man roster.