The Nationals claimed six-year veteran reliever Richard Lovelady off waivers from the Mets on Thursday and added the southpaw to their bullpen.
The 30-year-old Lovelady has pitched 111 innings since making his debut in 2019. He is 5-13 with a 5.35 ERA, three saves and an 8.3 strikeout rate with the Royals (2019-21), Athletics (‘23), Cubs (‘24), Rays (‘24), Blue Jays (‘25) and Mets (‘25).
Lovelady saw the majority of his big league playing time last season in New York, where he recorded a 6.30 ERA in 10 innings across eight relief appearances.
After signing with the Mets on June 23, 2025, he was designated for assignment by them four times. Lovelady actually had been the Mets’ first offseason signing, when they brought him back on a one-year deal on Oct. 23, 2025. Three months later, they DFA’d him again on Jan. 22.
Over the past five seasons, Lovelady is one of 14 southpaws to earn at least three saves and 15 holds while limiting his opponents to less than 27 percent inherited runners scored.
Lovelady also has pitched 270 innings in his career on the Minor League level. Last season, he posted a 1.66 ERA in 35 appearances (one start) between the Blue Jays’ and Mets’ Triple-A affiliates.
To make room for Lovelady on the 40-man roster, the Nationals DFA’d utility player Mickey Gasper, whom they had claimed off waivers from the Twins on Jan. 20.
Lovelady is the second player the Nats have claimed from the Mets organization this week. On Wednesday, they claimed shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers and DFA’d lefty reliever Konnor Pilkington in a corresponding move.
