Nationals Claim Infielder Tsung‑Che Cheng Off Waivers, DFA Konnor Pilkington

The Washington Nationals added 24-year-old infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to their 40-man roster on Jan. 28, claiming the versatile Taiwanese-born shortstop off waivers from the New York Mets and designating left-hander Konnor Pilkington for assignment to create roster space. The move swaps a bullpen piece for infield depth and sends Cheng to spring training with a real chance to compete for a utility role.

Cheng is a compact, speed-first infielder listed at 5-foot-8 who signed out of Taiwan with the Pittsburgh organization in 2019 at age 17. Over five professional seasons he has compiled a .251/.350/.385 slash line with 88 doubles, 21 triples, 35 home runs and 112 stolen bases in 507 games. Last year he played 107 games at Triple-A Indianapolis and hit .209/.307/.271 at that level. Cheng made his major league debut in April, appearing in three games and going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts. He has shown defensive versatility at shortstop while also seeing time at second and third base, and he still has one minor-league option year remaining.

Cheng’s arrival caps a whirlwind offseason for the infielder. Pittsburgh designated Cheng for assignment, Tampa Bay picked him up on Jan. 7 only to DFA him within five days, the Mets claimed him on Jan. 16 and then designated him for assignment five days later, and the Nationals completed the claim on Jan. 28. Cheng never appeared in a Mets uniform; the Mets cleared the roster spot to add reliever Luis García. This is the fourth organization Cheng has passed through in the span of weeks, illustrating how the waiver wire has become a rapid churn zone for depth pieces and upside defenders.

Pilkington’s DFA clears the 40-man space but leaves his immediate future unsettled. The left-hander still has one minor-league option year remaining and can be traded or placed on waivers within five days. Pilkington posted a 2.59 ERA in 42 1/3 innings for Rochester last season, but he walked 15 percent of his opponents in that stretch. There is some intrigue in Pilkington’s uptick in velocity and strikeout numbers after moving to a bullpen role, yet the high walk rate presents a clear hurdle to a sustained big-league role.

For the Nationals, Cheng represents low-cost, high-mobility depth. He projects as a reserve infielder behind projected starters Brady House at third base, CJ Abrams at shortstop and Luis Garcia Jr. at second base. Abrams has been the subject of trade chatter, and if a deal materializes Cheng could find more opportunities, though he would not be an automatic starter. Fantasy managers and roster watchers should note Cheng’s speed and option status, while also keeping an eye on Pilkington’s DFA window over the coming week.

Next up, Cheng will report to spring training and fight for a bench job; Pilkington’s next destination will be decided within the waiver window. The Nationals’ move underscores a seasonal pattern of roster tinkering - using waivers to add athletic, inexpensive depth while clearing spots for other needs.