This article was generated by artificial intelligence and is automatically updated as news breaks. All credit belongs to the original reporters and their publications.

The Washington Nationals claimed Wyatt Mills off waivers on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Rochester, per Dodger Blue. Mills lands with a new organization just three days after the Dodgers designated him for assignment. That DFA came as the corresponding roster move when the Dodgers called up Jonathan Hernández from Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of their current series.

Mills, the right-handed sidearmer, has had a journeyman’s path through professional baseball. Originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 2017 draft out of Gonzaga, Mills made his big league debut with Seattle in 2021 and pitched parts of two seasons there before being designated for assignment. He spent time in the Kansas City Royals organization before eventually landing with the Dodgers. His unusual arm slot — a low three-quarters, near-sidearm delivery — gives him a distinct look against right-handed hitters, generating awkward angles that can neutralize same-side bats. But that same delivery profile has always made him a matchup-dependent arm rather than a high-leverage reliever, and his tenure with the Dodgers never quite produced the consistency needed to lock down a bullpen spot on a contending roster.

For the Nationals, this is a low-risk claim on a pitcher with minor league options remaining. Washington can stash Mills at Triple-A Rochester, develop his arm in a less pressurized environment, and see if there’s something to extract from that funky delivery. For a rebuilding club, these kinds of waiver pickups are routine — you roll the dice on arms with interesting characteristics and hope your player development staff can unlock something.

Hernández, meanwhile, is the more interesting piece here from our perspective. The hard-throwing right-hander has closer-caliber stuff — a fastball that can touch the upper 90s and a wipeout slider — and the Dodgers clearly view him as a more viable bullpen option than Mills at this stage. His call-up speaks to the front office’s ongoing effort to shore up the relief corps, which has been a point of concern during this rough stretch.

From the Dodgers’ side, losing Mills off waivers is about as painless as roster attrition gets. He wasn’t part of the long-term bullpen plan, and the fact that he cleared the DFA process and was claimed rather than outrighted just means the Dodgers don’t have to worry about the 40-man roster spot any longer. It’s clean housekeeping. The real focus remains on getting the pitching staff healthy — with Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell both working through rehab starts, the cavalry is coming. Mills was a depth piece, and depth pieces come and go. No loss of sleep on this one.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: August 6, 2026 9:19 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers