Washington Nationals Sign Veteran Catcher Jorge Alfaro

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed right-hander Elvin Rodríguez off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, assigning him to Triple-A Reno, while placing infielder and DH Pavin Smith on the 60-Day Injured List due to a strained left quad, ending his season. Rodríguez, 27, has had mixed success in the majors, posting a career 9.40 ERA over 52.2 innings and has experience as both a starter and long reliever, with a pitching repertoire including a mid-90s fastball and various off-speed pitches. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals secured a victory over the Miami Marlins, highlighted by Cade Cavalli's strong pitching and a 2-run homer by James Wood. The Nationals also signed veteran catcher Jorge Alfaro, who left the Milwaukee Brewers after opting out of his minor league deal, to a new minor league contract, adding depth to their roster amid an injury to Keibert Ruiz. Alfaro, a 32-year-old slugger with eight years of MLB experience and previous stints with several teams including the Phillies and Marlins, is expected to contribute as the Nationals continue their rebuilding process despite being out of playoff contention. His acquisition provides the Nationals with a seasoned backstop option as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.