Cesar Izturis has elected free agency instead of accepting an assignment to the minor leagues, according to CBSSports.com. The Nationals designated Izturis for assignment three days ago after claiming him off of waivers from Milwaukee.
Izturis posted a .241/.254/.343 batting line in 173 plate appearances for the Brewers and Nationals this year. The 32-year-old played all four infield positions with Milwaukee and appeared at second base, third base and shortstop with Washington. Nationals manager Davey Johnson recently expressed interest in adding Izturis to the team when rosters expand next month.
This time, alas, the Nats did NOT get Maximum Izturis.
Twelve years in the major leagues… he may not be great, but I’m still jealous. If I was capable of being even an unimpressive, fringe guy you’d have to pry my ineffectual bat out of my defensively-unexceptional fingers, too.