Washington Nationals news & notes: Dylan Floro & his role in D.C.; Nats sign arbitration-eligible players …

Notes and quotes to start the week the Nationals will definitely do something significant…

As the Nationals noted in a press release on the 1-year/$2.25M deal reliever Dylan Floro signed earlier this winter, the 33-year-old, in his career, “… is (26-22) with a 3.42 ERA and 32 saves in 330 games over eight Major League seasons with the Rays (2016), Cubs (2017), Reds (2018), Dodgers (2018-20), Marlins (2021-23) and Twins (2023).”

“Floro,” they added, “… is one of only eight pitchers in Major League baseball to record at least 30 saves and 25 holds since the beginning of the 2021 season, joining new teammate Kyle Finnegan on that list.”

Floro saved 15 games for Miami in 2021, 10 for the Marlins in 2022, and seven in 2023 before the Fish traded him to the Minnesota Twins for 33-year-old, eight-year veteran Jorge López.

Before the Nats’ deal with the reliever was announced, skipper Davey Martinez told reporters he could see adding another arm to the mix at the back end of the bullpen in D.C., bolstering a relief corps which is likely to feature Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey in the late innings along with a hopefully-healthy after Tommy John surgery Tanner Rainey.

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

“Finnegan, Harvey, maybe somebody else,” Martinez said when asked who would be closing out games. “Yeah. But, yeah, I mean they have done a great job. They really have. So, yeah I’m proud of the way those guys — especially Finnegan — he takes the ball, as you know, all the time. He’s really, really, really improved.”

Floro said he hadn’t really discussed his role in the mix, but told reporters on a Zoom call after he signed, he would approach his job as he always has.

“I’m going to do the same thing I’ve kind of always done in the past,” Floro said.

“When my name is called on and I get the opportunity to pitch, I’m going to go out there and help the team as much as I can, so we’re in the win column.”

If the Nationals need him to close, Floro said, he knows he has the demeanor for the ninth.

“I’m relaxed for the most part,” Floro said of his personality overall, “… but when I get in the game I know it’s — got to drop the dude for the most part — and that’s all that matters at that time and moment, so yeah, might look a little different, compete a little different, but I try to stay the same, but it’s too hard, I’m too competitive for that.”

Coming off a down year with the Marlins and Twins which saw him post a 4.76 ERA, a 2.96 FIP, and .308/.363/.410 line against in 62 games and 56 ²⁄₃ IP, Floro is looking to reestablish his value and do what he can to help the Nationals build on what they have done thus far as they’ve tried to reboot the organization over the past few years.

“In my eyes it wasn’t a good year for me,” he said of his 2023 campaign.

“I know that. I mean, I had some bad luck, people said, but at the end of the day I’m the one pitching. I’ve just got to figure out a way to get it done, and I know coming back this year, I’m feeling good. I’ve done a couple changes, been working on some different things, executing, executing pitches a little bit better, and with two strikes, I mean there’s little things I can change to hopefully going into next year and it will help me out.”

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