Dodgers Lose Minor League Free Agent To Astros
The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost one of their top relief minor league pitchers.
Right-hander Mark Washington, a reliable reliever last season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, has signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros.
Washington confirmed the deal via his Twitter/X account.
Washington, 27, has been with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization since 2017, when he was drafted in the 25th round out of Lehigh University. He gradually worked his way up the minor league ladder; 2023 was his first full season at the Triple-A level. In 30 appearances out of the bullpen, he went 4-1 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.209 WHIP.
In his career, Washington has collected a 22-9 record with a 3.09 ERA, 262 strikeouts, 1.24 WHIP and has held hitters to a .229 average in 271 innings and 156 appearances. Washington has also started in seven games in his minor league career.
It’s unfortunate Washington won’t get his chance to make his major league debut with the Dodgers. Every young ballplayer dreams of making the big leagues, and the Houston Astros might just be the organization to give Washington that chance.
Photo Credit: Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman / USA TODAY Network
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This is what happens when you don’t turn over your prospects on a timely basis. If a Busch or a Vargas, for example, has no place to play except out of position, it is better to trade them for a major leaguer or for younger quality prospects than have them sitting around in AAA while their value decreases. If they are good enough to hit Triple A or high Double A, then they are good enough to be moved or for someone at the MLB level to be DFA’d (Austin Barnes in relation to Rushing, Cartaya or Feduccia for example) so they can play. If you are going to build a team through Free Agency then you need to keep using your prospects as trade bait if you have no place for them to play… sad but true.