Matt Krook, the 31-year-old lefty, just elected free agency on Tuesday. After being designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals just days prior, Krook cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester. But having been outrighted before, he exercised his right to reject that assignment, putting himself back on the open market.
The Nationals Made Their Move, Krook Made His
The Nationals' decision came swiftly. They designated Krook for assignment on Sunday. By Tuesday, he cleared waivers, and the team tried to send him to their Triple-A affiliate. Krook, with past experience being outrighted, had the right to refuse. Now, he is searching for his next team. It's tough to be DFA'd and then outrighted, especially after pitching for a team so recently. The Nationals activated him on July 7, only to designate him five days later. In his 2 2/3 innings across three outings for Washington, he gave up two earned runs on three hits and two walks. Talk about a quick turnaround!A Career of Pinstripes, Rays, and A's
Krook's path has been anything but conventional. Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round, 125th overall, out of Oregon in 2016, he was later traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in a blockbuster 2017-18 offseason deal. That blockbuster deal sent Christian Arroyo, Denard Span, and Stephan Woods to the Rays for Evan Longoria and cash. Krook never reached the big leagues with the Rays. The New York Yankees then claimed him off waivers during the 2020-21 offseason, where he finally made his MLB debut in 2023. He threw four innings across four outings for the Yankees, allowing 11 earned runs on eight hits and six walks with three strikeouts. The Yankees let him go in the 2023-24 offseason, trading him to the Baltimore Orioles for cash in February. With Baltimore, he made just one big-league appearance, giving up three runs, two earned, on one hit and one walk in a single inning. After the 2024 season, Krook elected free agency again, signing a minor-league deal with the Athletics on November 15, 2024. He made three appearances with the Athletics last season, allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk in 3 1/3 innings. This season, he tossed 3 2/3 innings over five outings for the Athletics, where he allowed seven runs, six earned, on five hits and four walks before they designated him for assignment in early July. The Nationals then claimed him off waivers on July 4. Quite a journey for the lefty.The Reliever Stats That Demand Attention
Despite all the organizational changes and some rough big-league outings, one stat demands a closer look. Krook had been a starter in the minors before converting to a full-time reliever in 2023. Since making that switch, the southpaw has recorded a 3.08 ERA with a strong 31.7% strikeout rate. His fastball typically sits around 90 mph, and he complements it with a slider, cutter, and changeup. That 3.08 ERA as a reliever is seriously intriguing, suggesting real potential for a team willing to take a chance. With Krook now a free agent, who will be the next club to see those numbers and offer him a shot at a consistent big-league bullpen role? We'll be watching to see where he lands.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.