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TALKING STICK, AZ - OCTOBER 07: Luis Perales #91 of the Salt River Rafters pitches during the game between the Glendale Desert Dogs and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As we all know, the Nationals need guys with louder stuff in the bullpen. They rank last in stuff+ and whiff rate among relievers. However, I think they have a potential solution sitting in their Triple-A rotation. Paul Toboni needs to unleash Luis Perales, and make him a high velocity bullpen arm.
Right now, the Nats are still trying to develop Perales as a starting pitcher. This offseason, they picked up Perales in a trade that sent Jake Bennett to the Red Sox. Right now, Bennett is pitching well in the big leagues, while Perales has a 4.42 ERA in AAA. Perales was viewed as the more raw, high upside arm of the pair, so it makes sense that he is a slower burn than Bennett.
However, I think they need to put pause on the starting experiment, and use Perales as a reliever. When you look at Luis Perales’ profile, it screams relief pitcher. He throws absolute gas, sitting at 98.4 MPH. Perales’ control and command really lag behind though. His 13% walk rate is problematic, and his inability to execute deep into games is cutting into his ability to generate strikeouts.
Perales is only 6 ‘0 tall and is coming off a Tommy John Surgery. All of this points to a future in the bullpen. However, I think Perales can be a good reliever, and make an impact fairly quickly. He has shown the ability to sit around 100 MPH in shorter bursts. Perales also has a few offspeed weapons. If he can simplify his approach, and throw a 4-seamer, cutter and changeup, he can be money.
In AAA, Perales has the best Stuff+ among starters. If you unleashed him in shorter bursts, I think that stuff would tick up even more. Perales needs to have extreme stuff because he is not getting batters out with command or execution like a Foster Griffin. The name of the game for him is blowing the ball by guys.
Another reason why I think Perales should get a big league shot before long is because he is already on the 40-man roster. This is also potentially his last option year, meaning he would have to stick in the big leagues next year. However, due to his long term injury last season, there is a pretty good chance that the Nats will receive an extra option year on Perales.
Regardless, they are going to need to get Perales acclimated to the MLB before too long. Right now, I do not think he has what it takes to be a starter. In the bullpen though, I think Perales has a chance to be a real weapon. He is also exactly what the Nats need from a profile perspective.
The Nats have a lot of funky, deceptive guys in the bullpen, like PJ Poulin, Brad Lord and Richard Lovelady. However, they do not have a guy who can throw 100 MPH. Luis Perales could change that, and light up radar guns at Nats Park.
After last night, where the Nats bullpen imploded and Perales had another lackluster start in AAA, I think the transition should happen immediately. If I were in Paul Toboni’s shoes, I would take Perales out of the rotation and get him used to the bullpen for a few weeks, and then add him to the big league roster.
The bullpen is Perales’ long term home most likely, and we need to get him used to being a reliever. He will need to learn things like going back to back days, and optimizing his pitch mix to be a reliever. I think it would be better to teach him that, then letting the flame thrower continue to struggle as a starter.
Even if you put him in the bullpen, that does not mean he has to be a reliever forever. Garrett Crochet, Chris Sale and Clay Holmes all spent time as relievers, and are now very good starting pitchers. We are seeing relievers convert to starters now more than ever.
The Yankees were in a similar spot with their flamethrowing prospect Carlos Lagrange, and recently moved him to the bullpen. For the Yankees, their idea is likely to get him used to the role and have him ready to be a factor for a playoff race. With the Nats also in the playoff hunt, they should be trying to do the same sort of thing.
The Nats are a competitive team that needs bullpen help. It is time for Paul Toboni to act that way, and use every avenue he can to improve the bullpen. Obviously, the trade market is one way to do that, but converting a guy like Perales to the bullpen is another solution. These bullpen meltdowns are unacceptable, and it is time for drastic measures.
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