logo
Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays should be interested in Kyle Finnegan after the Nationals non-tendered him
alt
Photo credit: © Daniel Kucin Jr. - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Nov 30, 2024, 19:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 30, 2024, 17:07 EST
Comments
Kyle Finnegan was non-tendered by the Washington Nationals, which is surprising, to say the least.
Drafted in the sixth round of the 2013 draft by the Texas Rangers, Finnegan didn’t make his big league debut until the 2020 season with the Nationals. Over time, he became an important member of their bullpen and earned the full-time closer role in 2024.
Surprisingly, the Nationals non-tendered the 34-year-old before the non-tender deadline, making Finnegan a free agent. That begs the question, what do his stats look like, what is his contract outlook, and is he a fit for the Blue Jays?

Kyle Finnegan’s stats

In his debut season in 2020, the right-handed reliever posted a career-best 2.92 ERA and a 3.76 FIP in 24.2 innings pitched, along with a 25.2 K% and a 12.1 BB%.
His first full season was in 2021 with the Nationals, where he finished with a 3.55 ERA and a 4.52 FIP in 66 innings pitched with a 23.1 K% and an 11.6 BB%. The following season, Finnegan had a 3.51 ERA and a 3.76 FIP in 66.2 innings pitched with a career-best 26.1 K% and an 8.2 BB%.
Finnegan became the Nationals’ closer in 2023, where had a 3.76 ERA and a 4.58 FIP in 69.1 innings pitched, along with 28 saves in 36 opportunities. It’s worth mentioning that his 21.9 K% was a career low, but he maintained his solid walk rate of 8.3%.
This past season, the 33-year-old had a 3.68 ERA and a 4.25 FIP in 63.2 innings pitched, with a 22.1 K% and an 8.9 BB%. Moreover, Finnegan had 38 saves in 43 opportunities, trailing only Ryan Helsley’s 49 saves and Emmanuel Clase’s 47 saves.
Finnegan has been consistent throughout his career, as he has a 3.56 ERA and a 4.24 FIP in 290.1 innings pitched, with a 23.5 K% and a 9.5 BB%.

Kyle Finnegan’s contract outlook

The 2025 season was set to be Finnegan’s final season of arbitration, and MLB Trade Rumors predicted he’d make $8.6 million in arbitration. However, thanks to being non-tendered, Finnegan will now have interest from multiple teams that will help drive up his price, as he’s one of the better closers on that market, at least statistically.
According to Spotrac, his market value lies at $12.5 million and they believe he’ll sign a two-year deal just under $25 million.

Is Kyle Finnegan a fit for the Blue Jays

You could ask this about any somewhat decent reliever and the answer would be yes. Finnegan is better than a decent reliever though, as he picked up the third-most saves in the big leagues while limiting his blown saves to five.
Of course, the Blue Jays would also have to add a handful of other relievers (Jeff Hoffman or Tanner Scott would be lovely), but signing Finnegan to pitch in high leverage? Sign me up!
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

Nation Gear Black Friday Sale

Black Friday is HERE, Nation Citizens! 🏒 Score 15% off all your favorites, including the brand-new “My City” Collection and fresh drops you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re gifting a die-hard fan or upgrading your own game-day fit, Nation Gear has you covered. Spend over $200, and enjoy free shipping, too! 🛍️ But hurry—this one-week-only deal is live now! Shop exclusively at nationgear.ca and make this holiday season unforgettable!

Editorials

Breaking News