In a move to make room for recently acquired (via trade) outfielder Jonny Gomes the Nats designated pinch hitting specialist Matt Stairs for assignment. The move gives the Nationals 10 days to either trade, reassign Stairs to the minors or release him.
Stairs who has hit 265 career home runs including a league record 23 pinch hit home runs was signed by the Nationals prior to the start of the 2011 season. At the time of the signing it was hoped that he would provide an offensive boost off the bench in pinch hit situations but has failed to do so. Stairs 43, has played in 56 games for the Nationals this season batting .154 with a 0 home runs, 4 runs and 2 rbis in 74 plate appearances.
While Stairs has had a very nice career and seems to be a good guy it has been painful for me to watch him play this season especially when enters the game in close situations. Stairs who was once quoted as saying “I try to hit home runs and that’s it” can no longer hit the long ball it seems and at 43 years of age and no power its a little late in his career to develop in to a guy who hits for average. So if I would not be even slightly upset if the Nationals released Stairs outright.
Now as for who the Nationals added in Jonny Gomes well he is a power hitting right hander off the bench that Davey Johnson has wanted to find for the team and will platoon with Laynce Nix left field. Gomes this season has hit 11 home runs with 31 rbis in 77 games while hitting .211 with a .336 on base percentage. Despite the .211 average Gomes has hit left handed pitchers extremely well this season posting a .333 batting average against left handers as opposed to his .171 batting average against right handers. For his career against left handed pitchers Gomes has posted a .281 average. So needless to say I think it would be safe to assume we will be seeing him get some at bats vs left handed pitching.
While having traded for Gomes is not a move that will put the Nats over the top it could give them a little spark offensively in certain situations.