The Nationals designated Nicolas for assignment Friday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
The club needed to free up a spot on its 40-man roster for the addition of Reiver Sanmartin, who was acquired via trade Friday. Nicolas is a hard thrower with a fastball velocity in the 85th percentile in 2026, but he's bounced around over the past year, spending time in four different organizations.