The Nationals announced they’ve signed veteran catcher René Rivera to a major league contract. Fellow backstop Jackson Reetz was optioned to Triple-A Rochester. Additionally, Washington reinstated infielder Jordy Mercer from the injured list. Space for Rivera on the 40-man roster was opened when Starlin Castro was placed on administrative leave this afternoon.
Washington will be Rivera’s second team of the 2021 campaign. The 37-year-old backstop was selected to the Indians roster in early May and spent a little less than two months in Cleveland before being designated for assignment. The Indians released him last week.
Rivera tallied 63 trips to the plate with Cleveland, hitting at a respectable .236/.300/.400 level with a pair of home runs. He struck out at an alarming 38.4% rate, though, and Cleveland elected to move forward with their expected battery of Roberto Pérez and Austin Hedges once those two players returned from stints on the injured list.
Of course, the Nats aren’t signing Rivera for his bat. He’s hit just .221/.273/.355 (71 wRC+) across 1614 plate appearances at the major league level. Rivera’s appeal is in his defensive abilities. He’s a 13-year major league veteran who’s well regarded for his work with pitching staffs. Rivera has typically rated as an above-average pitch framer over the course of his career, and he’s cut down attempted basestealers at a fantastic 36.3% clip at the major league level.
That quality glove and veteran aptitude is obviously of appeal to a Nationals team that had been relying on the younger duo of Reetz and Tres Barrera behind the plate. Both members of their desired battery — Alex Avila and Yan Gomes — landed on the 10-day IL earlier this month. Avila is dealing with bilateral calf strains, while Gomes has been held back by an oblique strain.
lol
We need a Jeff Mathis sighting…
He’s with the Braves AAA team…
[Insert AAAA OF] for Mathis and someone “blocked by” either Acuna Albies or FF.
Nationals are also purchasing the contract of pitcher BUICK RIVERIA !!
Oh come on. You removed my comment. It was a joke, I wasn’t celebrating Castro or anything.
Do the Nats have any interest in Sanchez let’s make a deal.
God I hope not… If so, maybe a bucket of balls for him?
Nats aren’t going anywhere. Why not let the young prospects hold down the fort until Gomes & Avila return? Barrera and Reetz did a solid job on the west coast trip before the break. Let them play!!
Reading between the lines it sounds like both Gomes and Avila may be out a while and they’d probably prefer Reetz continue his development in the minors and be available as a call-up when needed, for the next injury.
man, I really liked Castro before. sad.
Well, Rivera started the game by throwing one into CF on a pitch-out.
Well, Rivera hasn’t worked out too well so far. Yikes. Hopefully he’ll settle down and be serviceable.
Just wonder, but why hasn’t he worked out so far? I saw where the nats got hit for 24 runs with him behind the plate, thank goodness he didn’t allow that in Cleveland lol