Nationals' Derek Law: Yet to begin throwing program
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Law (forearm) has yet to begin a throwing program, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Law dealt with an arm issue late last season and made just one appearance during spring training before landing on the injured list with right forearm inflammation. He remains in the strengthening phase of his rehab, and while Martinez admitted Monday to being "a little worried" Law still isn't throwing, he added that the reliever "is getting better, is getting stronger."
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Nationals' Derek Law: Placed on IL
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The Nationals placed Law on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right forearm inflammation.
Complications from a late-season elbow injury in 2024 followed Law into spring training, though the Nationals are officially labeling his injury as a forearm issue. Either way, he'll now officially be sidelined through the first 15 days of the new season but isn't likely to need much more time than that to prepare for his 2025 debut.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Won't be ready for Opening Day
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Law (elbow) said Saturday that he doesn't believe he'll be ready for the start of the season, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Law has been brought along slowly this spring, as lingering issues from an elbow injury he suffered late last season have followed him into camp. The Nats still haven't decided whether to put him on the injured list, though that seems like the most likely outcome at this point. Once healthy, the 34-year-old righty will likely be used often out of the bullpen, as he's expressed interest in breaking the franchise record for most innings pitched by a reliever (93).
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Nationals' Derek Law: Taking aim at workload record
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Law has made it his goal to break the Nationals' franchise record for innings pitched in a season by a reliever, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The 34-year-old right-hander handled 90 innings last season, the most by a Washington reliever in the regular season since Tyler Clippard in 2010 and just three frames shy of Saul Rivera's record, set in 2007. As a result of that elevated workload, Law has been brought along slowly in camp and pitched to batters for the first time Monday on a back field, tossing 30 pitches. There's still time for him to get in Grapefruit League action before Opening Day as he prepares for work as a setup man ahead of closer Kyle Finnegan -- in addition to his 90 innings in 2024 being a career high, Law's 17 holds were also a personal best.
Law figures to be part of the Nationals' high-leverage crew this season, but it's not clear if he'll get a chance to audition for the open closer role.
Speaking to reporters earlier in camp, general manager Mike Rizzo indicated that Law would be a key bullpen piece for Washington, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. "We don't have a proven commodity at that position, but if the season started today, we would have a guy that we would say would be our ninth-inning guy," Rizzo said. "I don't know who it is yet. It could be Jose Ferrer. It could be Jorge Lopez. Law could have some leverage innings. And it could come from somebody that we haven't thought about yet." The latter category might also include Lucas Sims, who signed with the team earlier this week. Law has mainly been a middle reliever during a big-league career that stretches back to 2016, but he is coming off one of his best statistical seasons, posting a 2.60 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 76:24 K:BB over 90 innings with career highs in appearances (75), wins (seven) and holds (17).
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Nationals' Derek Law: Receives $2.75 million
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The Nationals and Law avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million contract Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Law was one of Washington's most reliable relievers in 2024, posting a 2.60 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 76:24 K:BB over 90 innings. He could be in the mix for saves in 2025 as things stand right now, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Nationals bring in a closer from outside the organization.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
The Nationals activated Law (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Monday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Law has been shelved since mid-August with ulnar nerve irritation in his pitching elbow but recently faced hitters with no issues, clearing the way for his return. The veteran reliever will return to a middle-relief role for the Nationals.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Throwing live BP
Rotowire
Law (elbow) will throw to live hitters Saturday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander has been sidelined since Aug. 17 with ulnar nerve irritation in his right elbow. It's unclear if Law will need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the IL.
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Nationals' Derek Law: MRI comes back clean
Rotowire
The MRI on Law's right elbow revealed only ulnar nerve irritation, but he hasn't been cleared to throw yet, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Law was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a strained right elbow, and Tuesday's MRI confirmed he isn't dealing with any structural damage. The 33-year-old took part in fielding drills Tuesday but hasn't been cleared to throw. A timeline for his return hasn't been announced.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Lands on IL with elbow strain
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Law on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a right elbow flexor strain, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Law has not allowed a run over his last six outings, and across 61 appearances this season he has a 2.85 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 75.2 innings. It's unclear how severe the injury is, but he will get an MRI on Monday to determine how long his stint on the IL will be, per Nusbaum. With Robert Garcia going on the bereavement list, the Nationals promoted Joe La Sorsa and Joan Adon in corresponding moves.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Seeing massive workload
Rotowire
Law leads all big-league relievers with 72.1 innings pitched so far this season, posting a 2.99 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 60:18 K:BB with six wins, 11 holds and a save in 58 appearances.
The veteran right-hander has worked more than an inning in four of his last five appearances as the Nationals' rotation struggles to provide consistent length, putting additional pressure on the bullpen. Per Mark Zuckerman of MASN, Law is on pace to become the first reliever in Nats history to toss more than 100 innings in a season -- Saul Rivera holds the record with 93 innings in 2007. Law has already set new career highs in innings and wins, and he's closing in on his personal bests in holds (14) and strikeouts (67).
Law threw a scoreless ninth inning to get his first save of the season in Thursday's 1-0 win over the Mets.
The Nationals' regular closer, Kyle Finnegan, had thrown in each of their last three games, which explains Law getting the save opportunity Thursday. The 33-year-old has been serviceable this season with a 3.18 ERA in 51 innings but doesn't offer much fantasy upside while primarily working as a middle reliever.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Tagged with loss Thursday
Rotowire
Law (3-2) took the loss Thursday against the Tigers, coughing up four runs on four hits in 1.1 innings of relief. He struck out one.
The journeyman right-hander wasted a strong effort by Patrick Corbin, giving up a solo shot to Justyn-Henry Malloy in the sixth inning before the wheels came off completely for Law in the seventh. He's handled a versatile role out of the Nationals' bullpen this season, recording six holds and three wins in 33 appearances with a 3.48 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 41:13 K:BB through 41.1 innings, but the heavy workload may be catching up to him -- Law's been scored upon in four of his last eight trips to the mound, and he's been taken deep twice over his last three games.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Records win Sunday
Rotowire
Law (2-1) picked up the win in Sunday's comeback victory over the Marlins, pitching two scoreless innings and allowing two hits. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Patrick Corbin got chased after coughing up seven runs (four earned) in four innings, but Law steadied the ship in the fifth and sixth and watched the Nationals offense come to life, erasing a 7-0 deficit. The 33-year-old right-hander remains in a low-leverage role, but he's pitched reasonable well to begin the season with a 3.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB through 18 innings.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Nationals selected Law's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Law made the team as a non-roster invitee after tossing 9.1 scoreless innings this spring. The 33-year-old reliever should operate in a middle-relief role for the Nats.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Invited to Nationals' camp
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Law signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Law posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 55 innings with the Reds last season, yet the team opted to non-tender him in November. Now with the Nationals, Law has a strong chance to make the team's Opening Day bullpen and would likely serve in middle relief.
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Derek Law: Cut loose by Reds
Rotowire
Law was non-tendered by Cincinnati on Friday.
Law posted a solid 3.60 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 55 innings this past year for the Reds, but they have opted to avoid paying him a raise in salary arbitration. The veteran reliever was projected to command around $1.4 million in 2024. He is now a free agent.
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