The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on one-year contracts with right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro and third baseman Nick Senzel on Tuesday. Additionally, Washington designated infielder Jeter Downs for assignment. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
Floro, 32, went 5-6 with a 4.76 ERA and seven saves in 62 relief appearances in 2023 between Miami and Minnesota. He struck out 58 hitters in 56.2 innings of work. Floro 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. He ranks seventh among Major League relievers with 0.45 home runs allowed per 9.0 innings since the start of the 2020 season (10 HR/198.2 IP).
Floro 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).
The Merced, California native has pitched in 14 Postseason games in his career and helped the Los Angeles Dodgers to the 2020 World Series title and the 2018 National League pennant. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 13th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of California State University – Fullerton.
Senzel, 28, is coming off a season in which he hit a career-high 13 home runs and matched a career-high with 42 RBI in 104 games for the Cincinnati Reds. He added 10 doubles, 26 walks, six stolen bases and 49 runs scored while hitting .236 with a .399 slugging percentage. A versatile defender, Senzel saw action at third base (57 G), left field (23 G), center field (18 G), right field (18 G), second base (6 G) and designated hitter (4 G) in 2023.
The right-handed hitting Senzel batted .347 with a .619 slugging percentage against left-handed pitching last season, with nine of his 13 home runs coming off left-handed pitchers. For his career, Senzel has slashed .286/.334/.459 in 409 plate appearances against southpaws.
Senzel was named National League Player of the Week April 30 after leading National League hitters in batting average, RBI and runs scored. He hit .476 (10-for-21) with a double, two homers, nine RBI, four walks, three strikeouts, one stolen base and eight runs scored in six games during the week.
Senzel finished the 2023 season strong, hitting .333 (15-for-45) with a double, three homers, four RBI, one walk and 10 runs scored in his final 19 games of the season. He hit safely in 12 of the 19 games.
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Senzel was selected second overall in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee.
Downs, 25, appeared in six games for the Nationals in 2023, going 2-for-5 (.400) with one RBI, two stolen bases, four walks and four runs scored.
The Nationals now have 40 players on their 40-man roster. Please see attached document for the updated 40-man roster.
