Nationals re-add lefty Konnor Pilkington on a minor-league deal, Triple-A Rochester assignment expected

The Washington Nationals have brought back left-handed reliever Konnor Pilkington on a minor-league contract, with the expectation that he will report to Triple-A Rochester, according to the transaction log as compiled by MLB Trade Rumors. The move gives the Nationals another lefty arm in their internal bullpen options as the major-league club continues to shape its pitching depth for the second half.

Pilkington’s prior stint with Washington included 32 appearances last season. In that run, he worked 28 1/3 innings and posted a 4.45 ERA, with a strikeout rate of 28% and a walk rate of 14%, numbers MLB Trade Rumors tied to his recent major-league body of work. That profile is notable for a reliever job in the middle and late innings, where the ability to both miss bats and limit free passes typically determines whether a pitcher can hold leverage.

Earlier in 2026, Pilkington was with the Detroit Tigers organization. MLB Trade Rumors reports he appeared for the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate and posted a 5.40 ERA over 33 1/3 innings, walking nearly 18% of batters while striking out about 18.9% of opponents. It also notes his fastball velocity has been lower this season, averaging 92.1 mph, compared with the 94-95 mph range referenced from last season. The Nationals’ willingness to re-sign him on a minor-league pact suggests they view the left-hander as a controllable depth option with a realistic pathway back to the big-league bullpen if his command and results improve.

The context of the return also matters. MLB Trade Rumors says Washington outrighted Pilkington off the 40-man roster over the winter, and he later elected free agency before signing with Detroit. Now, after his time in the Tigers system, he is back in the Nationals’ pitcher pipeline rather than remaining a free agent, which can benefit both sides if he can regain the sharper run-prevention version of his earlier work.

Alongside Pilkington’s agreement, Washington also released right-handed reliever Trevor Gott from his minor-league deal, again per the MiLB transaction log coverage. MLB Trade Rumors reports Gott spent the season in Rochester and worked 33 innings with a 3.55 ERA, while recording a 19% strikeout rate against a 10.6% walk percentage. Gott has prior major-league service, with MLB Trade Rumors listing 255 career appearances and a 4.65 ERA across parts of eight seasons, although it also notes he had not reached the MLB level in three years.

For Nationals fans, the immediate baseball question is how quickly Pilkington can move from a minor-league roster spot to meaningful bullpen innings at Triple-A. If his command looks closer to his prior Nationals usage, his strikeout ability plus improved control could make him a candidate for call-up consideration. For Rochester, it also adds a left-handed pitching look that can help the team manage platoon matchups and bullpen workloads, while Washington clears room by moving on from Gott’s minor-league agreement.

In the near term, watch for how Pilkington handles hitters once he reunites with the organization’s development staff and whether his velocity trend translates into better results. That matters because his 2026 numbers in Detroit’s system were more volatile, but his earlier major-league stretch with Washington offered a clearer, more balanced K-to-BB relationship. Any improvement there would increase his leverage in a Nationals bullpen that typically values upside and options through the dog days of summer and into late-season roster decisions.