Richard Bleier DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Washington Nationals signed free-agent left-hander Richard Bleier to a minor-league deal on Thursday, according to a source. The 36-year-old southpaw spent last year with the Boston Red Sox before being designated for assignment in August. In 27 appearances out of the bullpen for the BoSox in 2023, Bleier had a 5.28 ERA (5.11 FIP), 1.37 WHIP, five walks and 16 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings pitched. In parts of eight major-league seasons with the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins and Red Sox, Bleier holds a career 3.27 ERA (3.64 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with five saves and 187 strikeouts in 330 1/3 innings over 335 appearances (two starts). He'll most likely end up starting the year at Triple-A Rochester while providing the Nationals with left-handed relief depth in the minors.