The Nationals designated outfielder Willy Taveras for assignment, reports Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider. The move clears a spot for Mike Morse, who is returning from a calf injury.
Taveras, 28, logged only 36 plate appearances with the Nationals this year. He signed a minor league deal in February after being released by the Athletics. The A's remain on the hook for most of Taveras' $4MM salary. The speedster's last good season was a 97-game stint in '07 with the Rockies.
Zuckerman also notes that reliever Brian Bruney "appears to be on thin ice at this point." The 28-year-old righty was acquired to take on a late-inning role, but his fastball's been down almost two miles per hour and his control has been brutal.
The mets should sign taveras to replace GMJ
Bruney’s fastball is down and the control is brutal, huh? Sounds like a fit for the Cubs bullpen.
Maybe Taveras with the Braves if released, minors or speed only option off the bench?
Taveras is a slight improvement on Joey Gaithright, another slash hitter who can run and plays a little “D”, but not much. if he will settle for sitting on some team’s bench as a 4-5th OF and coming in late to PR, then might be able to find a job, other than that, he just became an AAAA player.
Could the Twins pick him up and try to slip Alexi Casilla down to AAA? They don’t have anyone that can back up Span in CF right now. Tavarez could be Jim Thome’s PR caddy in the last couple of innings