Washington Nationals reportedly sign Henderson Alvarez to minor league deal...

According to multiple reports on Monday night, the Washington Nationals signed one-time Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, and Philadelphia Phillies’ right-hander Henderson Alvarez to a minor league deal.

Alvarez, 28, last pitched in the big leagues in 2017, with the Phillies, after he was forced to undergo shoulder surgery twice, in 2015 and ‘16, before returning to put up a 4.30 ERA, a 6.36 FIP, 11 walks (6.75 K/9), and six Ks (3.68 K/9) in three starts and 14 ²⁄₃ innings pitched for Philadelphia.

In his last full season in the majors (in 2014), Alvarez, who signed with the Blue Jays out of Venezuela in ‘06, and was acquired by the Marlins (along with Anthony DeSclafani, Yunel Escobar, Adeiny Hechavarria, Jake Marisnick, and Jeff Mathis in an 11-player deal that sent Emilio Bonifacio, John Buck, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, and cash to Toronto in 2012), went (12-7) with a 2.65 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 33 walks (1.59 BB/9), and 111 Ks (5.34 K/9) in 187 IP.

Alvarez has made just seven starts in the majors since, however, and he spent 2018 pitching for the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League, going (6-1) in 11 appearances (and 10 starts) with a 3.58 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 14 walks (1.79 BB/9), and 33 Ks (4.77 K/9) in 120 ²⁄₃ IP.

Organizational depth with upside if he can somehow get back to where he was in 2014? Will we ever see Alvarez in the majors with the Nationals?

Alvarez is currently pitching in the Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional where he’s (2-4) with a 5.87 ERA, five walks, 10 Ks, and a .331 BAA in seven games (six starts) and 30 ²⁄₃ IP for the Navegantes del Magallanes.