The veteran infielder had not been with Washington long after coming over from Milwaukee via a waiver claim earlier this month. In 173 plate appearances on the season between the two clubs he’s hit a combined .241/.254/.343 while appearing all across the infield. That versatility was why the Nationals brought him aboard in the first place, given the team’s need for depth while Ian Desmond was on the shelf with an oblique injury. Once Desmond returned, however, Izturis was no longer needed and lost out to the roster crunch.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson, however, saw the value the veteran brought to the club and was quickly to opine that he’d be interested in bringing Izturis back once September came around – provided the 32 year old is still available. Such a move will be easier said than done, of course, given the organization’s lack of wiggle room on their 40-man roster but it’s not entirely out of the question at this point in time.

Shortstop Ian Desmond makes his much-anticipated return to the Nationals lineup tonight. (Image Credit: Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE)

Desmond’s rehab has been progressing quickly over the past week. He started to field ground balls last week in Houston and began hitting in the cage later that week in Arizona. By early this week he was participating in full workouts with the team and rumblings began that his return could be imminent. Desmond did not go on a minor league rehab assignment. It seems he didn’t need to, according to quotes passed along by Mark Zuckerman:

I stuck with the routine the trainers told me to do. I’ve been feeling good. There’s no sense in dragging an extra two weeks out of it. Obviously that might have been the safe bet. But I feel good, so I’m just going to go with it.

Washington’s lineup hasn’t missed a step in Desmond’s absence. The team has maintained their lead atop the NL East and still control the best record in the National League. Different players have continued to step up to help pick up the slack.

Izturis, who the organization claimed off of waivers earlier this month from the Milwaukee Brewers, had a short stay with Washington. He appeared in only five games, collecting a pair of hits in four plate appearances. The team now has 10 days to trade or release the veteran.

Aug 4, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cesar Izturis (3) throws out a St. Louis Cardinals base runner during the 7th inning at Busch Stadium. (Image Credit: Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE)

More known for his defense than his hitting ability, Izturis is a switch hitter that has played on a variety of different teams throughout his 11 year career.  This is his first year with the Brewers, after spending time with the Blue Jays, Cubs, Dodgers, Pirates, Cardinals, and Orioles.  The Venezuelan has been having a below-average 2012 season at the plate, batting .235 (career .255 hitter) with 2 home runs and 11 RBIs in 162 plate appearances.  Izturis was named the starting shortstop following the season-ending injury to Alex Gonzalez on May 7, but was then sent to the DL with a hamstring injury on May 26.  He missed about 25 games but returned June 22 and has played almost every game since.  The Nationals will be responsible for only the remainder, not all of Izturis’ $850,000 salary this season.

Rizzo’s main reason for acquiring Izturis is certainly to offset the weak fielding of Espinosa since the true 2nd baseman took over for Desmond shortly following the All-Star Break.  After accruing only 4 errors through 88 games at 2nd base, Espinosa has racked up 5 costly errors in just 21 games at short.  Izturis, on the other hand, only has 3 errors through 45 games at the position.  Until Desmond returns from the 15-day DL, Izturis will play most, if not all games at shortstop with Espinosa sliding back to his original position on the right side of the infield.  This means that Steve Lombardozzi will most likely move to the bench now that walk machine Jayson Werth has returned to roam the Nats’ outfield.  Since becoming an everyday starter on July 1, Lombardozzi’s batting average has hovered right around a decent .260.