Washington Nationals designate A.J. Cole for assignment, select contract of Carlos Torres...

Washington Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez was asked after Wednesday’s bullpen blowup in Citi Field what the future held for A.J. Cole, who came on in a bases-loaded jam, and gave up a grand slam.

It was the second home run surrendered in two relief appearances for Cole, after he was moved to the bullpen following two less-than-stellar outings as the No. 5 starter in the Nationals’ rotation.

“We’ve got to figure it out,” Martinez said. “Get him back out there, give him some chances, and see what happens.”

In four appearances this season, two starts and two in relief, the 26-year-old right-hander, who made the starting rotation this Spring in part because he was out of options, gave up 16 hits (six of them home runs), six walks, and 15 runs total, all earned, posting a 13.06 ERA, a 10.49 FIP, and a .356/.431/.867 line against in 10 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched.

This afternoon, the Nationals made the decision to designate Cole for assignment, exposing the 2010 4th Round pick to waivers after he once again struggled at the major league level.

Through 24 appearances, 22 as a starter with the Nationals, Cole has a 5.32 ERA, a 5.34 FIP, 8.35 K/9, 3.93 BB/9, and a .274/.350/.495 line against in 110 innings.

In addition to the move with Cole, the Nationals announced that they selected the contract of veteran right-hander Carlos Torres, who signed a Minor League deal in late March which USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported, “... will earn [him] $1.5 million if called up by [the Nationals] with $1 million in incentives.”

Torres, 35, made four scoreless and hitless appearances at Triple-A in the Nationals’ system before his contract was selected today.

In 67 relief appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017, Torres put up a 4.21 ERA, a 4.89 FIP, 33 walks (1.80 BB/9), 56 Ks (5.40 K/9), and a .273/.356/.429 line against in 72 ²⁄₃ IP.