The Washington Nationals are making another savvy move to bolster their bullpen, reportedly signing former New York Mets reliever Max Kranick to a deal pending a physical. This comes just as the Nats' bullpen was showing signs of improvement, but GM Paul Toboni knows you can never have too many arms.

Before an elbow injury derailed his 2025 season, Kranick was quietly one of the Mets' most reliable multi-inning relievers. In 37 innings, he posted a solid 3.65 ERA while showing excellent command—walking just five batters all year. His fastball averaged 95.6 mph and generated whiffs over 25% of the time, making him a tough at-bat for opposing hitters.

The 28-year-old right-hander also flashed a deep arsenal of breaking balls, including a slider, curveball, and sweeper, with the slider serving as his primary put-away pitch. While he didn't rack up huge strikeout numbers, Kranick has the kind of electric stuff that plays well in high-leverage spots when he's locked in.

Unfortunately, his strong campaign was cut short in mid-June when elbow issues forced him to undergo flexor tendon surgery in July. The Mets non-tendered him this offseason, leaving him to test the free-agent market while recovering.

Kranick has been throwing for teams lately, including a showcase at Ascent Athlete in Philadelphia, and apparently impressed enough to catch Washington's attention. It's still unclear exactly when he'll be ready to pitch in big league games, but the expectation is he'll contribute at some point this season.

This is likely a minor league deal with an invitation to compete for a bullpen spot once healthy. If Kranick can return anywhere near his pre-injury form, the Nationals will have added a valuable, low-risk piece with genuine upside. Think of him as a fastball-dominant arm in the mold of Gus Varland—when that heater is humming, he can be a difference-maker out of the 'pen.