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| (C.Nichols/Nats News Network) |
The Washington Nationals re-assigned catcher Jesus Flores and pitcher Craig Stammen to Triple-A Syracuse today, cutting the Nats spring training roster to 35 as Opening Day rapidly approaches.
Neither move is unexpected. Flores, returning from major shoulder surgery, needs to see more pitching to get his stroke back after missing the better part of two seasons. He played well over the winter in Venezuela, but he needs to play every day to get himself back into "game shape."
Stammen found himself in a three-way battle for the "long man" spot in the bullpen, which he manned capably last season, with Chad Gaudin and Brain Broderick.
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| (C.Nichols/Nats News Network) |
Gaudin has been lights-out this spring and Broderick, a Rule 5 draftee, must remain on the Nats active roster or be offered back to the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Both men took the news as a challenge to work their way back onto the big league roster, showing class and determination.
This speaks to the volume of Major League talent GM Mike Rizzo has accumulated for the Nationals. He has developed an inventory of players such that two players that have been starters on this team in the past didn't even make it to final cuts.
Flores and Stammen are both Major League players though, and we'll see them resurface -- in D.C. or elsewhere -- before too long.
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