The newest member of the Washington Nationals is left-handed reliever Doug Slaten. He'll be used primarily as a lefty-on-lefty and late inning specialist, freeing Brain Bruney and Sean Burnett for a wider array of usage.
The Nats purchased Slaten's contract from Triple-A Syracuse and designated Matt Chico, yesterday's starter, for assignment. The Nats expect to retain Chico's services.
Slaten had thrown 17.0 scoreless innings for Syracuse so far this season. He's given up just 11 hits and one walk, striking out 17 in the process.
ed. (11:37 am)--Just got out of manager Jim Riggleman's pre-game press conference. He indicated that Slaten has done a real good job against lefties during his stint in Syracuse, and he'd use him in a match-up situations, but that he could also use Slaten for a couple innings if the need called for it.
"He can fill a couple holes for us," Riggleman said. "He can give us some length in the bullpen and he's got some experience, so I wouldn't hesitate to put him in there against a good left-handed hitter."
Riggleman also said Slaten's arrival shouldn't impact the general composisiton of the bullpen, but give him another option, and that he hopes that they can get Brian Bruney--who has struggled some this season--into situtaions where he can be successful.
ed. (11:37 am)--Just got out of manager Jim Riggleman's pre-game press conference. He indicated that Slaten has done a real good job against lefties during his stint in Syracuse, and he'd use him in a match-up situations, but that he could also use Slaten for a couple innings if the need called for it.
"He can fill a couple holes for us," Riggleman said. "He can give us some length in the bullpen and he's got some experience, so I wouldn't hesitate to put him in there against a good left-handed hitter."
Riggleman also said Slaten's arrival shouldn't impact the general composisiton of the bullpen, but give him another option, and that he hopes that they can get Brian Bruney--who has struggled some this season--into situtaions where he can be successful.
Slaton posted more innings pitched than games in which he appeared, in both 2009 and 2010 in the minors. Maybe he is ready to be more than a LOOGY? The Nats need a whole inning out of more of their relievers.
EdDC