The Washington Nationals acquired left-handed pitcher Carson Palmquist from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations, both clubs announced. Palmquist was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after the trade, while right-hander Max Kranick was moved to the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot.
Palmquist, 25, had spent his entire professional career in the Rockies organization after being selected in the third round of the 2022 draft. He developed into one of Colorado’s better pitching prospects, ranking among the team’s top 30 prospects every season since being drafted and reaching as high as No. 8 in 2025. However, his brief major league trial last season was difficult. In nine appearances, including seven starts, Palmquist posted an 8.91 ERA over 34 1/3 innings. He struck out and walked hitters at nearly the same rate, with a 15.4% strikeout rate and 14.3% walk rate, while allowing 10 home runs. His fastball averaged just over 90 mph, and he generated ground balls only 31.6% of the time.
This season, Palmquist entered the year as Baseball America’s 17th-ranked Rockies prospect, but Colorado designated him for assignment on May 21 after a shaky start in Triple-A Albuquerque. He appeared in 12 games, starting five, and threw 25 innings with a 7.20 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He also nearly matched his strikeout total with walks, recording 24 strikeouts and 19 walks. Across his Rockies minor league career, Palmquist logged 138 Triple-A innings and compiled a 5.41 ERA with 9.7 strikeouts and 5.5 walks per nine innings.
The Nationals will use Palmquist as organizational pitching depth, and he still has two minor league options remaining. If he performs well in Rochester, he could eventually earn a call to Washington. The Nationals have struggled on the mound this season, entering the day with the majors’ fifth-worst ERA at 4.82, though their lineup has helped keep them in contention with a 27-27 record.
Kranick, 28, signed a one-year deal with a club option with Washington on May 5. He was immediately placed on the 15-day injured list after the signing as he continued recovering from flexor tendon surgery he underwent last summer. By transferring him to the 60-day IL, the Nationals ensure he will not be eligible to return until at least early July. Kranick previously pitched for the Pirates and Mets before joining Washington.
