Former Nationals reliever Tony Sipp clears waivers, becomes free agent

Three days after the Nationals requested released waivers on Tony Sipp, the left-handed reliever has cleared and is now a free agent, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets. 

Washington will pay Sipp the remainder of his $1M salary for this year and a $250K buyout for 2020.

The fact that the 36-year-old Sipp couldn’t stick in what has been a dicey Nationals bullpen looks damning. He logged a 4.71 ERA (albeit with a far more encouraging 3.55 FIP) and 7.71 K/9 against 3.86 BB/9 in 21 innings this season after the Nats signed him to a low-cost deal a couple weeks before the season.

Along with posting shoddy run prevention numbers, Sipp saw his velocity and strikeout rates tumble compared to where they were last season as an Astro. At the same time, Sipp limited same- and right-handed hitters to sub-.290 weighted on-base average marks as a Nat this season. Sipp is also a year removed from an exemplary showing in Houston, where he posted a 1.86 ERA/2.41 FIP with 9.78 K/9 and 3.03 BB/9 over 38 2/3 innings. 

Now, considering Sipp is in line to collect the league minimum on his next contract, some contender looking for an established late-game lefty may well take a chance on him in the coming weeks.