Clippard announced his retirement from baseball Thursday.
The 38-year-old didn't pitch anywhere in 2023, last appearing in the majors for four games with the Nationals in 2022. Clippard finishes a 16-year big-league career with a 3.16 ERA in 807 appearances, 74 saves and a 9.9 K/9, having pitched for 10 different teams. He made the All-Star team in 2011 and 2014 during his first stint with the Nats.
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Tyler Clippard: Parts ways with Washington
Rotowire
Clippard cleared waivers and was released by the Nationals on Thursday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Clippard was designated for assignment by the Nationals earlier this week and will now hit free agency after passing through waivers unclaimed. He's appeared in only four big-league games this year, though he has a 2.23 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 53:18 K:BB over 40.1 innings at Triple-A.
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Nationals' Tyler Clippard: DFA'd by Washington
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Clippard was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Clippard was activated from the 15-day injured list Aug. 12 and surrendered four runs with a 3:4 K:BB and four hit batsmen over three innings before Washington opted to move on. The veteran right-hander posted a 2.23 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 53:18 K:BB in 36 appearances for Triple-A Rochester before being promoted, and it remains to be seen if he elects to return there or hit free agency, assuming he passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Nationals' Tyler Clippard: Reinstated from injured list
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Clippard (groin) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Clippard was sidelined for nearly a month due to a groin injury, but he spent the last week at Triple-A Rochester on a rehab assignment. Over three appearances with the minor-league club, he struck out four in four scoreless innings. Mason Thompson and Andres Machado were sent down to help make room for Clippard on the active roster.
Clippard (groin) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Clippard was called up for the first time this season July 13 and hit the injured list the next day after making just one appearance. He may not need a particularly long rehab assignment, but there's no guarantee he fills a significant role in the big-league bullpen once healthy.
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Nationals' Tyler Clippard: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Clippard was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with a groin strain, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Clippard picked up the injury while warming up last Saturday, and he will be unavailable for the start of the second half. Given that Clippard has not appeared in a game since July 14, he will be eligible to be activated before the month comes to a close. However, it remains to be seen when he will be ready to return.
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Nationals' Tyler Clippard: Overcomes cramping
Rotowire
Clippard experienced cramping in his left calf while warming up during Saturday's 6-3 loss to Atlanta, but he'll be available for Sunday's series finale, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals could have placed Clippard on the injured list if there was truly any concern about his calf, but the team's decision to option Hunter Harvey to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday to clear a spot on the roster for fellow reliever Cory Abbott implies the team is confident in Clippard's health. The 37-year-old turned in two scoreless frames in his initial appearance for Washington following his call-up from Triple-A on Wednesday and could be needed to cover multiple innings again Sunday with the Nationals treating the series finale with Atlanta as a bullpen day.
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Nationals' Tyler Clippard: Called up to Washington
Rotowire
Clippard's contract was selected by the Nationals on Wednesday.
Clippard failed to make the Nationals' Opening Day roster this year but will join the major-league bullpen prior to the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mariners. The right-hander was productive at Triple-A Rochester to begin the year, posting a 2.48 ERA, 49:17 K:BB and 1.22 WHIP in 36.1 innings over 33 appearances. Tanner Rainey (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list to make room for Clippard on the 40-man roster.
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Nationals' Tyler Clippard: Won't open season in majors
Rotowire
Clippard was assigned to minor-league camp Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Clippard only signed with the team one week prior, so the Nationals may not have felt that he'd be ready for game action at the start of the regular season. His six saves and 3.20 ERA for the Diamondbacks last season should earn him more major-league opportunities at some point this season, though his strikeout rate dropped from 26.5 percent to 18.9 percent, so he's probably better suited for lower-leverage opportunities.
Clippard signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Saturday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Clippard made 26 appearances for the Diamondbacks last year and posted a 3.20 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 25.1 innings before his mutual option was declined by the team in early November. The right-hander has already thrown eight live bullpens this spring and hopes to appear in some Grapefruit League games prior to the end of camp.
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Tyler Clippard: Diamondbacks decline option
Rotowire
Clippard's mutual option was declined by the Diamondbacks on Thursday.
Clippard made 26 relief appearances for Arizona in 2021 and converted six of nine save chances while posting a 3.20 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 25.1 innings. However, he'll now seek out another club ahead of his age-37 season.
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Diamondbacks' Tyler Clippard: Picks up save Saturday
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Clippard earned the save Saturday against the Astros after allowing one unearned run on one hit and one walk across one inning.
Clippard allowed the extra-inning inherited runner to score but was otherwise able to protect a three-run lead. The veteran reliever has gone four straight appearances without a strikeout. He owns a 1.69 ERA but a 2:5 K:BB through six outings this month.
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Diamondbacks' Tyler Clippard: Blows save, takes loss Friday
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Clippard (1-1) was tagged with a loss and a blown save against Houston on Friday, yielding two runs (one earned) on one hit and two walks over one-third of an inning.
Arizona tallied one run in the top of the 10th inning, and Clippard was subsequently given his first save opportunity since returning from the injured list Monday. After getting a lineout to start the frame, he intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez to set up a double play. That move ended up backfiring, as Jake Meyers singled in the tying run and Alvarez eventually came around to score when Clippard nailed Chas McCormick with a pitch. The veteran reliever is 5-for-8 in save opportunities this season, though he has notched a solid 2.95 ERA across 19 appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Tyler Clippard: May not close immediately
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Clippard may not be put back into the closer's role immediately after being reinstated to the active roster, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
Clippard was activated Monday after experiencing flu-like symptoms since early last week. If Lovullo avoids Clippard in save situations, J.B. Wendelken could be the reliever of choice. Lovullo used Wendelken in the ninth inning Saturday and Sunday.
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Diamondbacks' Tyler Clippard: Returns from injured list
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Clippard was activated off the COVID-19 injured list Monday.
Clippard hit the injured list last Tuesday after experiencing what appeared to be coronavirus symptoms, but he eventually tested negative for the virus. He returns less than a week later and could add to his tally of five saves down the stretch.
Clippard (illness) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Clippard recently tested negative for COVID-19 and that the pitcher's symptoms "decreased substantially." The reliever was expected to be tested again Saturday, but the results are not yet known. Clippard has been out since Tuesday with what is described as flu-like symptoms.
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Diamondbacks' Tyler Clippard: Bullpen scheduled for Saturday
Rotowire
Clippard (illness) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Clippard landed on the COVID-19 injured list after experiencing symptoms of the virus earlier in the week. Manager Torey Lovullo noted the pitcher tested negative and will be tested again Saturday. Clippard had been closing games for the Diamondbacks prior to being added to the IL.
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Diamondbacks' Tyler Clippard: Placed on injured list
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Clippard landed on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.
Manager Torey Lovullo indicated that Clippard is battling COVID-like symptoms, but there's been no indication thus far that he tested positive for the virus. If it turns out that he's battling a separate illness, he could return within a few days, but a positive test would shut him down for at least 10 days.
Clippard allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Pirates.
Clippard was handed a three-run lead in the ninth inning. After allowing a leadoff double, he retired the next three batters he faced to secure his fifth save of the season. Clippard has now recorded each of the Diamondbacks' last three saves and appears to be the frontrunner for the limited chances the team has across the final month of the season. Across 13 innings on the campaign, Clippard has maintained a 2.77 ERA with an 11:3 K:BB.
