Washington Nationals release Jeremy Jeffress for “personnel reasons” according to report...

Washington Post reporter Jesse Dougherty was the first to report today that the Washington Nationals have released reliever Jeremy Jeffress just a couple weeks after signing the right-handed veteran.

Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo was quoted in the initial WaPost story on the latest roster move saying in a statement that the release was made, “for personnel reasons,” without further detail.

Manager Davey Martinez said last Thursday that Jeffress, who joined the club last month on a minor league deal, was doing well in camp, coming off a 2020 campaign with Chicago’s Cubs which saw the 33-year-old, 11-year veteran put up a 1.54 ERA, a 4.09 FIP, 12 walks (4.63 BB/9), 17 strikeouts (6.56 K/9), and a .137/.273/.192 line against in 23 1⁄3 IP (.136/.255/.205 vs lefties and .138/.297/.172 vs righties) on the season.

“He’s doing good. Doing good. He threw a live bullpen the other day. Looked really good,” Martinez said of what he had seen from Jeffress early in Spring Training.

“Another guy that started a little late, we’re going to get him built up, probably throw another live here in a couple days, and then we’ll see where he’s at from there.”

Jeffress had been working out “religiously” on his own before signing with the Nationals, Martinez said, and it showed in his early work with the team.

“He looks great, and watched him throw yesterday. The ball was coming out really nice, so a couple more live BPs maybe, and then we’ll get him in a game.”

Just a few days later, Jeffress is once again a free agent, leaving some questions behind in West Palm Beach.