Washington Nationals sign intriguing former Mets reliever Max Kranick

TL;DR

The Washington Nationals have signed former Mets reliever Max Kranick to a minor league deal pending a physical. Kranick, who posted a 3.65 ERA in 37 innings before undergoing elbow surgery, aims to return to form this season.

Key points

Washington Nationals signed Max Kranick to a minor league deal
Kranick posted a 3.65 ERA in 37 innings with the Mets
He underwent Flexor Tendon surgery in July 2025
Kranick's contract is pending a physical examination
He has the potential to contribute to the Nationals bullpen this season

Max KranickWashington NationalsNew York Mets

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Max Kranick #32 of the New York Mets in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 25, 2025 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Dodgers 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images We may have just written about how the Nats bullpen was turning things around, but Paul Toboni is always on the lookout for new arms. The Nats have reportedly signed Max Kranick to a deal that is pending a physical. Before going down with an injury, Kranick was a solid arm in the Mets bullpen, posting a 3.65 ERA in 37 innings. After making the Mets out of camp last season, Kranick was a valuable multi-inning reliever for them. He showed off a solid combination of good stuff and great control. Kranick only walked 5 batters in 37 innings last year. He also averaged 95.6 MPH on his fastball. However, the 28 year old went down with an elbow injury in mid June. He ended up undergoing Flexor Tendon surgery in July of 2025. Kranick missed the remainder of the 2025 season, and went unsigned after being non-tendered by the Mets this offseason. Kranick has been throwing for teams though. It seems like he was throwing the ball well enough to catch the Nats eye. We are still not totally sure when Kranick will be ready to pitch in big league games, but presumably it will be at some point this season. I would assume this is a minor league deal for Kranick where he will get a shot at the big leagues if he looks good in AAA. If Kranick can return to his pre-injury form, he would be a solid piece for this Nats bullpen. Kranick has a really good fastball that generated whiffs 25% of the time last season. He can also spin several breaking balls. Kranick used a slider, a curveball and a sweeper last year, with the slider being his go to breaking pitch. While Kranick did not strike a ton of guys out last year, he can be pretty electric when he is on his game. The breaking ball is not as good, but the plus fastball does remind me a bit of . Both Varland and Kranick have good, but not elite velocity. However, their heaters play up due to the shape of the pitch. I am excited to follow Kranick as he builds back up and gets ready for big league action. He is likely to have a ramp up period and then pitch in the minors for a while. However, I think Kranick will have a role to play in this bullpen in the second half of the season. He has some intriguing pitch traits and has the ability to go multiple innings. Last season, Kranick threw 37 innings in 24 outings. He has the ability to be a one inning guy or a multi-inning arm. The Nats new regime clearly values guys like that, which is why they are picking up Kranick. This could end up being a solid little signing.

Q&A

What are Max Kranick's career statistics with the Mets?

Max Kranick had a 3.65 ERA in 37 innings with the Mets, showcasing good control by walking only 5 batters.

What injury did Max Kranick suffer while with the Mets?

Max Kranick underwent Flexor Tendon surgery in July 2025 after suffering an elbow injury in mid-June.

What is the nature of Max Kranick's contract with the Nationals?

Max Kranick signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals, where he will have the opportunity to earn a spot in the big leagues.

When can we expect Max Kranick to pitch in big league games?

It is unclear when Max Kranick will be ready for big league action, but he is expected to have a ramp-up period in the minors before returning.

Washington Nationals sign intriguing former Mets reliever Max Kranick

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Key points

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