Watkins agreed to terms with the Nationals on Sunday, per his agency, Gaeta Sports Management.
Watkins was initially expected to sign with a KBO team for the 2024 season, but he'll remain in MLB as part of the Nationals. He's made 40 appearances (31 starts) between the Orioles and Athletics in the majors over the past three seasons, posting a 5.97 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 164.1 innings.
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Spenser Watkins: Heading to KBO
Rotowire
Watkins is signing with a team in the Korea Baseball Organization, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Watkins made just one major-league appearance in 2023 with Oakland and leaves behind a career 5.97 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 164.1 total big-league frames. Maybe the 31-year-old right-hander can find more success overseas.
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Spenser Watkins: Leaving Oakland organization
Rotowire
Watkins elected free agency Wednesday.
Watkins made one appearance for the Athletics in 2023 but spent the bulk of the year in the minors with three different organizations. Because of his service time, he had the ability to elect free agency and look for a new landing spot.
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Athletics' Spenser Watkins: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Oakland outrighted Watkins to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Melissa Lockard of The Athletic reports.
Watkins was lit up in his lone major-league appearance for the Athletics this season, yielding five earned runs over 4.1 innings in an Aug. 15 start at St. Louis. The 31-year-old right-hander is officially off the 40-man roster.
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Athletics' Spenser Watkins: Lit up in season debut
Rotowire
Watkins (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out four.
The 30-year-old righty put Oakland in an early hole during his season debut, giving up a two-run homer to Nolan Arenado and a solo shot to Jordan Walker in a four-run first inning. Watkins started 30 games for Baltimore over the previous two seasons, posting a record of 7-13 with a 5.85 ERA and 1.51 WHIP across 160 innings during that span. If he sticks in the rotation, Watkins tentatively lines up to face the Royals at home early next week.
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Athletics' Spenser Watkins: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Oakland optioned Watkins to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Watkins was lit up for five earned runs over 4.1 innings in a spot start Tuesday versus the Cardinals as the Athletics fell 6-2. Kyle Muller has been called up in a corresponding roster move and could step into the rotation next week.
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Athletics' Spenser Watkins: Tapped to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Watkins will start for the Athletics on Tuesday in St. Louis, Jessica Kleinschmidt of The Comeback reports.
It had been Freddy Tarnok's turn, but he's gone down with a calf injury. Watkins was claimed off waivers a week ago and this will be his first start in the majors in 2023. He holds a career 5.85 ERA over 39 appearances -- 30 starts -- at the major-league level.
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Athletics' Spenser Watkins: Recalled by Oakland
Rotowire
Watkins was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
Watkins was assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas after being claimed off waivers by the A's last week, but he is now set to receive his first big-league opportunity with his new club. It's unclear what role he will fill, but he has started 11 Triple-A games this season, so he looks like the leading candidate to replace the injured Freddy Tarnok (undisclosed) in Oakland's rotation.
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Athletics' Spenser Watkins: Claimed by Oakland
Rotowire
The Athletics claimed Watkins off waivers from the Astros on Tuesday, Jessica Kleinschmidt of The Comeback reports.
Watkins had been designated for assignment by Houston and will remain in the AL West, although he'll report to Triple-A Las Vegas for the time being. The 30-year-old has posted an 8.35 over 14 appearances -- 11 starts -- at the Triple-A level this season.
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Astros' Spenser Watkins: Cast off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Astros designated Watkins for assignment Sunday.
Watkins was the casualty from the 40-man roster with the Astros needing to clear a spot for right-hander Jose Urquidy (shoulder), who was activated from the 60-day injured list in advance of his scheduled start Sunday against the Yankees. After the Astros acquired him from the Orioles on June 23, Watkins pitched exclusively at Triple-A Sugar Land, where he produced a 9.74 ERA and 2.21 WHIP in 20.1 innings over six outings.
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Astros' Spenser Watkins: Shipped to Houston
Rotowire
The Orioles traded Watkins to the Astros on Friday in exchange for cash considerations, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
The Orioles designated Watkins for assignment Tuesday, and now the 30-year-old righty will add to the Astros' starter depth -- presumably with Triple-A Sugar Land. Watkins has spent all season in Triple-A, accumulating a 7.27 ERA and 1.92 WHIP through 26 innings across eight appearances (six starts).
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Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Watkins was designated for assignment Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Watkins was called up by the Orioles over the weekend but didn't make an appearance. The 30-year-old has posted a 7.27 ERA this season at Triple-A Norfolk and would seem to have a good chance of clearing waivers.
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Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Joins big-league roster
Rotowire
Watkins was recalled by the Orioles on Saturday.
Watkins has thrown 160 innings at the big-league level, struggling to a 5.85 ERA while striking out just 13.7 percent of opposing batters. His 7.27 ERA and 20:17 K:BB in 26 Triple-A innings this season hardly inspire confidence, so it's unlikely he'll be seen in anything other than a low-leverage relief role. Reed Garrett was optioned in a corresponding move.
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Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Returns from minor-league IL
Rotowire
Watkins (finger) was reinstated from Triple-A Norfolk's 7-day injured list last Thursday and worked two innings in his return, giving up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out a batter.
Watkins was sidelined for approximately one month with a right fourth finger laceration. Though he was capped at 35 pitches in his return last Thursday, Watkins should gradually increase his workload in his subsequent turns through Norfolk's rotation.
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Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Goes on Triple-A IL
Rotowire
Watkins was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday due to a right fourth finger laceration, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
It doesn't seem to be anything that would keep him out for a long time, but he won't be an option for the Orioles for a while. Watkins holds a 4.15 ERA in three starts for Norfolk this season.
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Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Watkins was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk following Sunday's 8-4 win over the White Sox.
Watkins will head back to Triple-A after he was called up for extra bullpen depth Thursday. With Keegan Akin returning from the paternity list Monday, Watkins was the odd man out on the major-league roster.
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Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Back in Baltimore
Rotowire
Watkins was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Watkins failed to make the big-league club out of spring training, though he's had a solid start at Norfolk by allowing only three earned runs across 10 frames through two starts. He's likely to pitch out of the bullpen in Baltimore, but he could be an option for spot starts after he posted a 4.70 ERA across 105.1 innings last year.
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Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Watkins was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
Watkins had a 4.15 ERA and 10:4 K:BB over 13 innings during spring training but was unable to secure a spot at the back end of Baltimore's rotation. The 30-year-old had a 4.70 ERA in 23 outings for the Orioles last season and will be one of the top candidates for a call-up when the club requires spot starters this year.
Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Strong first spring appearance
Rotowire
Watkins threw two perfect innings and struck out two in Thursday's Grapefruit League game versus the Tigers.
Watkins is somewhat of a forgotten man in the chase to fill out the back end of the Orioles' rotation. Grayson Rodriguez also pitched well Thursday, striking out one and walking one over two scoreless innings. Watkins and Rodriguez are in competition for spots, and the latter's prospect pedigree likely gives him the edge. Still, Watkins was serviceable in 2022 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 105.1 innings last season, making 20 of his 23 appearances as a starter, and the 30-year-old righty could be near the top of the O's list of spot starters if he doesn't win a spot in the rotation out of camp.
