In Washington, the Nationals have successfully reached an agreement with injured relief pitcher Mason Thompson, thereby sidestepping arbitration. Thompson will earn a one-year contract valued at $770,000 for the time he spends in the major leagues, while his minor league salary is set at $374,600.

The deadline for teams to extend 2025 contracts to any unsigned players on their 40-man rosters was 8 p.m. EST on Friday, and the Nationals announced this deal on the preceding Thursday evening.

Thompson, a right-handed pitcher who will turn 27 in February, did not participate in the 2024 season as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent on March 1. Notably, this is not his first experience with this procedure, as he also had Tommy John surgery in March 2015 while he was still playing in high school at Round Rock High School in Texas.

Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the third round of the 2016 amateur draft, Thompson made his major league debut on June 22, 2021. Shortly thereafter, on July 30 of that year, he was traded to the Nationals in exchange for right-hander Daniel Hudson, along with minor league infielder/outfielder Jordy Barley.

Over his three seasons in the major leagues, Thompson has amassed a record of 6 wins and 8 losses, alongside a 4.53 earned run average (ERA) across 106 relief appearances. His previous salary was $749,200 for the 2024 season, as part of a pact that stipulated $339,579 should he be assigned to the minor leagues.