Bowden acquires Logan from Tigers

Less than 24 hours after trading Marlon Anderson and Daryle Ward, the Nationals acquired center fielder Nook Logan from the Detroit Tigers for a player to be named later or cash.

Logan, 26, is known for his speed and defense. After watching numerous center fielders struggle for the past two seasons — both at the plate and in the field — general manager Jim Bowden decided the Nationals needed a defensive stalwart to play center field.

“We like his speed and defense,” Bowden said. “He’s going from [the Tigers’] big-league club that’s in first place to our club that’s in last place. I expect him to play center field tomorrow in one of the two games. And I expect him to go run the ball down and catch the baseball.”

To make room for Logan on the 40-man roster, the Nationals outrighted reliever Kevin Gryboski to Class AAA New Orleans.

Logan’s weakness is his hitting. He opened the season at Class AAA Toledo, where he batted .185 with no home runs and four RBI and was sent down to Class AA Erie on June 28. Logan batted .247 in 20 games with no homers and two RBI in Erie.

Logan does not have a plate appearance this season with the Tigers. Last year was Logan’s first full major league season, and he batted .258 with 17 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 129 games. Logan was the Tigers’ regular center fielder for most of the first half of the season before his poor hitting cost him the starting job.

Meanwhile, by trading Anderson and Ward, Bowden is stockpiling pitchers for the future.

Bowden made the moves late Thursday night, and he particularly liked the trade of Anderson to the Los Angeles Dodgers for 20-year-old pitching prospect Jhonny Nunez. The 6-foot-3 Nunez was undefeated (6-0 with a 1.58 ERA) in seven starts this season in the Gulf Coast Rookie League.

Bowden also acquired right-hander Luis Atilano from the Atlanta Braves for Ward. Atilano was the Braves’ first-round pick (35th overall) in the 2003 draft but had Tommy John surgery three weeks ago.

According to a team source, orthopedic surgeon James Andrews performed the surgery and told the Nationals that Atilano has just a partial tear in his right elbow and should be ready for 2008.

Rainout

It took tropical storm Ernesto to force just the second rainout at RFK Stadium in the Nationals’ two-year existence.

Last night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks will be made up today as part of a day-night doubleheader. The first game will start at 1:05 p.m., and the nightcap is at 7:05. Both teams will keep their pitching rotations intact.

Diamondbacks right-hander Miguel Batista (10-5, 4.46 ERA) is scheduled to face Nationals left-hander Billy Traber (3-3, 7.14) in Game 1.

Former Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez (10-11, 5.27) will start the nightcap for the Diamondbacks against Nationals rookie right-hander Jason Bergmann (0-1, 6.64).

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