The Washington Nationals today reassigned catcher Wil Nieves to minor-league camp. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.
This appears to be a roster clean up move. If the reports are to be believed, Johnny Estrada will not be ready for Opening Day, Jesus Flores is going to play full-time in Double-A Harrisburg, and Nieves will rejoin the Nationals by the end of the week.
The Nats are at 31 players in spring camp.
UPDATE: Per Barry Svrluga …
The club reassigned catcher Wil Nieves to minor league camp Sunday, a move that could mean Jesus Flores will serve, at least initially, as Paul Lo Duca’s backup. Bowden, speaking before the move, said Johnny Estrada, slated to be the backup, likely will start the year on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis, though he is “very close to being ready.”
Flores could spend a week or two in the majors although the club wants him to get a full year as a starter at Class AA Harrisburg.
This would mean the Nationals would not need to use a 40-man spot for Nieves
JayB | 23-Mar-08 at 8:31 pm | Permalink
If he is coming right back why reassign him? Not that it needs to make sense but seems odd, why not just put Johnny on the DL and put Jeuss to AA and leave put Wil on the 25 man roster some time this week?
Ric | 24-Mar-08 at 12:22 am | Permalink
MLB.com report says if Estrada is not healthy at the season’s start, then Flores will serve as LoDuca’s backup at the outset, until Estrada can go; Flores will be optioned to AA Harrisburg as soon as Estrada returns. Nieves will be non-roster AAA catcher.