Nationals Acquire Sanmartin From Giants
Washington adds left-hander Reiver Sanmartin in exchange for relief prospect Robert Cranz as it looks to repair a bullpen that struggled badly in 2026.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Baseball
The Washington Nationals acquired left-hander Reiver Sanmartin from the San Francisco Giants, sending relief prospect Robert Cranz to San Francisco in return. San Francisco had designated Sanmartin for assignment earlier this week.
Why it matters
The Nationals had the worst bullpen in the Majors in 2026 and set a Major League record with 42 blown saves, surpassing the previous mark of 37 set by the 2024 Chicago White Sox. Bolstering relief pitching is a key priority for the club heading into the offseason.
Sanmartin, 30, recorded 16 strikeouts and seven walks in 21.1 innings this season for a 4.22 ERA. Cranz allowed 17 earned runs on 15 hits in 11.2 innings at Triple-A Rochester.
The players
Reiver Sanmartin
Sanmartin is a 30-year-old left-hander who spent the 2026 season with the San Francisco Giants before being traded to Washington.
Robert Cranz
Cranz is a relief prospect and former seventh-round draft pick of the Washington Nationals who was sent to the Giants in the trade.
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Washington, D.C., that finished 2026 with the league's worst bullpen.
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball franchise based in San Francisco that designated Sanmartin for assignment before trading him.
The details
Sanmartin is out of minor league options, so he must be added to the Opening Day roster in 2027 or be designated for assignment again. Cranz, a seventh-round pick of the Nationals in 2024, was the price the club paid to land the left-hander.
Timeline
Cranz was drafted by the Nationals in the seventh round in 2024.
The Nationals' bullpen set the record for blown saves during the 2026 season.
San Francisco designated Sanmartin for assignment earlier this week.
The Nationals acquired Sanmartin on Friday, November 6, 2026.
Sanmartin must be on the Nationals' Opening Day 2027 roster or be designated for assignment again.
Season Trajectory
The Nationals' record-setting bullpen collapse in 2026 surpassed the 2024 Chicago White Sox mark of 37 blown saves, a figure that now stands as the new benchmark for relief failure. The Sanmartin trade is a small, early step toward rebuilding a relief corps that cost the club games throughout the season.
Sanmartin is out of minor league options, so Washington must carry him on the 2027 Opening Day roster or risk losing him on waivers. Fantasy managers tracking bullpen roles should watch how the Nationals deploy him, given the club's need for reliable relief arms.
The takeaway
A bullpen that blows this many leads can cost a team games it should win, so the Nationals' push for quality relievers this offseason will matter as much as any starting-rotation move. Sanmartin is a modest addition, but his roster status makes him a decision point for Opening Day.
What happens next
Sanmartin must be added to the Nationals' Opening Day 2027 roster or designated for assignment again, as he is out of minor league options.
Further reading
For more on the Nationals' season and roster moves, see Baseball coverage in Washington.
