Jorge Alfaro Clears Waivers, Chooses Free Agency
Jorge Alfaro has officially cleared waivers and opted for free agency, as announced by the Nationals. This decision comes as part of his rights under the league’s rules, given his extensive experience in the majors with over five years of service time.
Alfaro’s Career Overview
The 32-year-old catcher joined the Nationals in September 2023 after leaving a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Prior to that, he had spent the entire season at the Triple-A level.
Performance with the Nationals
In his limited time with Washington, Alfaro played 14 games, accumulating 39 plate appearances. His batting statistics were modest, with an average of .256 and an on-base percentage of .256. Notably, he did not draw any walks during this stretch and posted a 54 wRC+.
Strikeout Rate and Historical Stats
- Strikeouts: 35.9% during his time with the Nationals
- Career Strikeout Rate: 34%
- Career Walk Rate: 4.1%
- Career wRC+: 86
While catching is often associated with lower offensive output, Alfaro’s performance remains below average for the position.
Defensive Breakdown
Defensively, Alfaro’s numbers have raised concerns. Although he recorded an above-average pop time, Statcast revealed shortcomings in his framing, throwing, and blocking in 2025.
- Games Behind the Plate: 91.2 innings
- Tracking Defensive Metrics: Difficult due to sample size, but recent indications suggest limitations in his performance.
Potential Market for Free Agency
Alfaro now enters a competitive free agency market for catchers, joining a list of notable names including J.T. Realmuto, Victor Caratini, and Danny Jansen. Realmuto, nearing 35 years old, has shown signs of decline. Caratini and Jansen also produced average offensively but faced defensive challenges.
Future Outlook
Given the current landscape, Alfaro is likely to find opportunities as a depth catcher, potentially on a minor league deal. Teams consistently seek catching help, which could benefit his prospects in the upcoming season.
