Nationals bring back former All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard on minor-league deal

The reunion party that is Nationals spring training gained a new member this weekend.

Washington inked former All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard to a minor-league contract on Saturday, bringing home the fan favorite who is also the club leader in career pitching appearances. 

Clippard, who has bounced around the league since the Nationals traded him away in 2015, is a non-roster invitee to training camp and could be another veteran arm to bolster a bullpen that was one of the league’s worst in 2021. 

The 37-year-old right-hander is coming off a so-so season with the Diamondbacks. After missing the first half of the campaign with a shoulder injury, Clippard pitched to a 3.20 earned-run average in 25 1/3 innings with Arizona. While Clippard has never relied on his velocity, his fastball dipped to 88.9 miles per hour and he struck out fewer batters than innings pitched last season.

Arizona had a $3.5 million mutual option with Clippard for the 2022 season but declined the option to send him to free agency.

Clippard, a former top prospect as a starting pitcher in the Yankees organization, was traded to the Nationals in 2007. After a brief time as a starter in D.C., Clippard was moved to the bullpen and became one of the team’s top relievers for the next six seasons. From 2009 to 2014, Clippard averaged a 2.64 ERA, 76 innings per season and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

He was selected to the All-Star Game in 2011 and 2014 as the Nationals’ set-up man. In 2012, he saved 32 games as the team’s closer. 

He was shipped off in January 2015 for shortstop Yunel Escobar. Since his departure from Washington, Clippard became a journeyman, pitching for nine teams — the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Twins, Mets, Athletics, Indians, Astros, Blue Jays and White Sox. 

Clippard is the latest veteran arm to join the Nationals’ bullpen options. Earlier this month, Washington signed sidearmer Steve Cishek and former Nationals closer Sean Doolittle to major-league contracts.