The Washington Nationals yesterday acquired outfielder Preston Wilson and veteran reliever Mike Stanton, filling two major needs just as the season’s second half begins.
The Nationals completed their long-rumored trade for Wilson late last night, sending pitcher Zach Day, outfielder J.J. Davis and a player to be named or cash considerations to the Colorado Rockies for the power-hitting outfielder. The Nationals hope Wilson will make it to Milwaukee in time to start in center field this afternoon against the Brewers.
Stanton, signed as a free agent following his release by the New York Yankees, also is expected to be in uniform at Miller Park and available to pitch.
As part of the deal, Washington will take on $2 million of the $5.5 million still owed Wilson this season. The rest will be paid by the Rockies, who worked out a deferred payment schedule with the outfielder for his waiving of a no-trade clause that had included the Nationals.
Wilson, who turns 31 on Tuesday, should inject some much-needed life into a Nationals lineup that ranks last in the National League in runs scored and home runs. His current totals of 15 homers and 47 RBI are second only to right fielder Jose Guillen’s 18 homers and 51 RBI on Washington’s roster.
In 2003, his best season, Wilson hit 36 homers and led the National League with 141 RBI and made his only All-Star team.
Wilson, though, is batting just .258, even after playing more than half his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. He has struck out 77 times in 267 at-bats.
“Look, he’s a guy who’s going to go 1-for-4 and strike out a lot on occasion,” Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said. “But we feel like he can also give us the kind of home run power we’ve been lacking and play a very good center field for us.”
With Nick Johnson’s return from a bone bruise in his right heel still uncertain, the Nationals for now plan to start Wilson in center field, with Brad Wilkerson moving to first base while Ryan Church and Marlon Byrd platoon in left field. Ultimately, Johnson’s return from the disabled list would appear to bump Church and Byrd to the bench, with Wilkerson becoming the everyday left fielder.
“The only way we were going to make this deal was if we could do it without trading anyone who we felt like could help us in the major leagues this season,” Bowden said. “We also weren’t going to trade away anyone we feel like is one of our top prospects. We aren’t going to mortgage our future.”
The acquisition of Stanton gives the Nationals a veteran left-hander to help bolster an increasingly overworked bullpen. Though he posted an unsightly 7.07 ERA in 28 games with the Yankees before being designated for assignment two weeks ago, Bowden said it was worth taking a chance on the 38-year-old lefty. The Yankees are paying the remainder of his $4 million salary for this year, and Stanton will cost the Nationals only a prorated portion of the major league minimum salary (about $140,000).
“It’s a very low-risk deal,” Bowden said. “And we get a very experienced left-handed reliever.”
Wilson and Stanton won’t be the only welcome additions to the Nationals’ roster for the start of the second half of the season. The club yesterday activated Church off the 15-day disabled list. The rookie outfielder had been out with a variety of shoulder and collarbone injuries since running into the fence in Pittsburgh while making a game-saving catch June 22.
To make room for Stanton and Church on the roster, the Nationals placed infielders Junior Spivey (broken right forearm) and Tony Blanco (vertigo associated with a sinus infection) on the 15-day DL. If Wilson arrives before today’s game, they’ll have to make a corresponding move, with outfielder Matt Cepicky the likely candidate for demotion.
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