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.
