UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: The Nationals confirmed Bernadina’s option to Triple-A just before game time.
With Sunday’s trade deadline comes uncertainty. That extended to the Washington Nationals’ clubhouse this afternoon when the team needed to clear a spot on the 25-man roster for Chien-Ming Wang.
To make room, outfielder Roger Bernadina will be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. But the transaction won’t be official until game time. Presumably, waiting gives the Nationals flexibility if a trade develops.
For now, Rick Ankiel fills Bernadina’s spots in center and at the top of the lineup.
Bernadina leads the team with 15 run in July and is batting .247 with five home runs and 16 steals.
“This isn’t a demotion,” manager Davey Johnson said. “It’s really out of necessity.”
Bernadina’s locker wasn’t cleaned out and the pregame notes still listed him as part of the team.
Two relievers — Ross Detwiler and Ryan Mattheus — have options remaining and could’ve been sent down instead of Bernandina. But Johnson is concerned about overusing his bullpen. After the trade deadline passes, he believes he’ll be able to arrange the group the way he likes.
Onto the lineups, as Wang returns to the majors after a 755 day absence after surgery on his right shoulder:
New York Mets
Jose Reyes, SS
Justin Turner, 2B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
David Wright, 3B
Angel Pagan, CF
Jason Bay, LF
Lucas Duda, RF
Ronny Paulino, C
Dillon Gee, P
Washington Nationals
Rick Ankiel, CF
Danny Espinosa, 2B
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
Michael Morse, 1B
Jayson Werth, RF
Laynce Nix, LF
Ian Desmond, SS
Wilson Ramos, C
Chien-Ming Wang, P
