The Nationals have acquired outfielder Darin Mastroianni from the Phillies in exchange for cash, Philadelphia announced. Mastroianni was signed to a minor league deal over the winter.
It seems likely that the Nats’ interest in Mastroianni relates to their recent loss of Reed Johnson to surgery. The team has top prospect Michael Taylor available to serve as a right-handed-hitting, center-field-capable bench option, but probably prefers that he receive everyday playing time with Denard Span back in the lineup. (It doesn’t hurt, of course, that Taylor won’t accrue service time while at Triple-A.)
It remains to be seen whether Mastroianni will head right to the big league roster. The fleet-footed 29-year-old has four seasons and 306 plate appearances under his belt at the MLB level. This year, at Triple-A, he has slashed .293/.333/.362 over 64 turns at bat.
I know that den Dekker bats left, but isn’t this the exact role that the Nats picked him up to fill? 4th OFer if McClouth continues to be hurt/suck and if the Reed Johnson revival didn’t work out?
Mastroianni is a no risk pick up… I just don’t see the point.
Reed Johnson just had surgery over the weekend and will probably be out for an extended period of time. Haven’t heard what’s up with McClouth. And denDekker isn’t exactly lighting AAA on fire.
Just cash and not even a low, low, low prospect? Geez, Rube what is up with that?
I’m also wondering if that means that Dom Brown will be hanging around LVIP for awhile longer.