MIAMI — The Nationals' replacement for Felipe Vázquez is now also a member of the Pirates' bullpen. Enny Romero, a 27-year-old left-hander whose four-seam fastball has reached 100 mph, was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Saturday and is expected to join the club within the next three days.
It was the third roster move in two days for the Pirates, whose bullpen had a 6.90 ERA entering their game Saturday against the Marlins at Marlins Park. A corresponding roster move has yet to be announced.
Romero, formerly a prospect of the Rays, gave up three earned runs in two innings for the Nationals this season before he was designated for assignment one week ago. The Pirates had only one left-handed reliever on their roster after optioning Josh Smoker to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
"You've got numbers, you've got different peripherals to look at," Clint Hurdle said. "It's a big arm. It's a high-velocity arm. He's not just a left-left guy. He's shown the ability to pitch to right-handers as well. Sometimes it's spray command. There's a reason he got DFA'd. He's a 27-year-old guy that's got some experience and had a pretty solid season last year. We were willing to get out there, put a claim in on him and see if we can take a look at him."
Dovydas Neverauskas is likely the odd man out in the Pirates' bullpen after he allowed a two-run homer in a 7-2 loss to the Marlins on Friday night. He's allowed at least one run in five of seven outings this season and opponents are batting .367 against him.
After trading Vázquez to the Pirates in July 2016 in exchange for Mark Melancon, the Nationals acquired Romero last February to serve in a similar late-inning role. Romero was primarily used by the Nationals in the seventh and eighth innings last season, but he couldn't consistently command his four-seam fastball. He averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings with a 1.40 WHIP and 3.56 ERA in 55 2/3 innings. Only 20 percent of inherited runners scored against him, but the left-handers he faced batted .295/.371/.462.
He is making $565,000 in his current contract season, isn't arbitration-eligible until 2019 and won't be a free agent until 2022.
Ranked as the No. 90 prospect by Baseball America prior to 2014, Romero was signed by the Rays as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Republic and made his major league debut with the club in September 2013. He then spent all of 2014 at Triple-A before spending most of the next two seasons in the Rays' bullpen.
Prior to completing the move, Hurdle asked Vázquez, who knows Romero from their time in the Rays' organization, if Romero was a good teammate and Vázquez gave an endorsement.
"Since he was a step ahead of me, I always looked up to him and said, 'I want to pitch like that guy," Vázquez said. "Then I realized I won't because he's taller than me, he's bigger than me. I needed to find a way to go around him and be in the same path he was. I was more under control and he was a little all over the place all the time. At the end of the day, I thought he'd be first, but things happen."
Romero had 65 strikeouts to 23 walks for the Nationals last season and will be used in a middle relief role upon joining the Pirates. With the Nationals having a surplus of left-handed relievers, Romero wasn't guaranteed a spot on the 25-man roster, and he became expendable when the club was in need of a bench bat.
Also, his four-seam fastball velocity dipped to 95 mph in his last outing against the Braves, when he gave up one earned run in 1 1/3 innings. In addition to his four-seam fastball, Romero throws a curveball and cutter, and he relied on the former more in his two appearances with the Nationals this season.
Hurdle said Romero won't be used in multi-inning situations because of the number of pitches he often throws. The Pirates' scouting of Romero included phone calls from Hurdle to people who were aware of Romero's pitching with the Nationals, particularly what situations he thrived in.
"I was able to talk to some guys about how he was used," Hurdle said. "Not just look at the number of games he's pitched, but how he functioned in the bullpen, what kind of teammate he was. Those are questions we ask. The people that were there, were there certain situations he flourished? Were there situations that were more challenges? But he does have some versatility. ... I've heard it ever since I got into the coaching part of the game, some left-handers pop later than some right-handers. Left-handers can always get one more look or one more opportunity where sometimes that right-hander can be done. But they can be intriguing. And this guy, the velocity is still fresh and it's real. When he gets with us we'll check him out."
Ray Searage has not had the opportunity to watch game footage of Romero to see how the Pirates will address issues with command, saying he'll likely do so following Saturday night's game. Romero is unlikely to join the Pirates in Miami and he has not pitched in a game since April 3, but he told the organization he has thrown multiple bullpen sessions, including one Saturday.
Hurdle, though, spoke of the importance of waiting until a pitcher arrives before deciding whether or not a throwing program will be necessary to prepare him for game action.
"Well, I can tell you from past experience most guys in these situations will tell you they've been throwing every day," Hurdle said with a smile. "They may even throw some bullpens. Once we get him out there we'll throw him, and I think we'll have a better idea. He said he's been throwing."