TODAY: Moore has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A, per an announcement from the club.
YESTERDAY: The Nationals placed first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore on waivers yesterday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports on Twitter. It’s not immediately clear if the club is seeking release or outright waivers, but Moore would not be able to refuse an assignment if outrighted, as he’s accrued less than five years of service and has never previously been removed from the 40-man.
Moore, who is out of options, had agreed to a $900K salary in his first season of arbitration eligibility.Washington will remain on he hook for about one quarter of that non-guaranteed amount (45 days of pay, or approximately $221K). Moore had seemed in line for a bench bat role, but obviously the organization decided to go with another alignment.
The Nationals have utilized Moore in a bench role in each of the previous four campaigns, though he’s never exceeded 200 plate appearances in a single year. All told, he owns a .228/.281/.401 slash with 24 home runs over 649 trips to the plate at the major league level.
Moore played his way into the organization’s plans with a strong 2012 effort, but has fallen shy of league average production in each year that’s followed. He has generally hit well in the upper minors and obviously has intriguing power, but he’s not a natural outfielder and doesn’t represent a platoon option at first base. With four solid outfield options on hand and a variety of potential bench pieces with greater versatility, it seems that Moore was the odd man out.
To some extent, the move represents a vote of confidence in the health of Ryan Zimmerman, as Moore would likely have stepped into a time share with Clint Robinson had Zimmerman been deemed unready for the start of the season. Of course, he might well still take such a role, if he clears waivers and is stashed at Triple-A. Any team considering a claim of Moore would need to take on his arbitration obligations, and Moore’s anemic spring batting line could make that unlikely.
He’s either a AAAA guy or the next josh willingham. Needs to play every day; he produces when he does. Good guy; hope he gets a chance.
Let the “Mary” comments fly. Sorry.
I’m not worried about what happens with him because I know he’s gonna make it after all.
I just wonder what Lou Grant would think of this news.
If Washington releases him the Indians should sign Moore & release Jesus Aguilar. I’d like to know Aguilar’s actual weight. In a ST game he hit the slowest roller to SS possible & came no where near beating it out. He looks close to 280- 300 lbs. now. It’s a shame I think the frustration of being stuck in the minors got to him.
If Washington releases him the Cardinals should sign him. They are looking for a first baseman and he would be good.
My Sox should sign him. Try and turn him into a pitcher. Why not, right?