The Nationals designated Doug Slaten for assignment to make room for new acquisition Adam Kennedy, according to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post (via Twitter). The Nationals picked the 30-year-old Slaten up off waivers from the D'Backs in November.
The lefty pitched just 6.1 innings in the majors last year. He pitched more in 2008, logging 32.1 innings for the D'Backs with 3.9 BB/9 allowed and 5.6 K/9. Slaten added 43.2 Triple A innings last year and his rates were better in the minors. He walked just 3.1 BB/9 with 8.1 K/9 for a 3.09 ERA.
It has been a busy day for the Nats, who agreed to sign Chien-Ming Wang.
I hope he makes it through to Syracuse, so we have a chance to see him sometime this season. A number of folks predicting the Opening Day roster thought he would make it.