Rays/MLB

Rained-out Nationals continue retooling

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 2, 2006

WASHINGTON - Roster moves seem almost as important as the games these days for the last-place Nationals. That's why Friday's rainout was far from a wasted day.

While the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto headed toward the nation's capital, general manager Jim Bowden made his third trade in less than 24 hours and announced five callups.

The latest deal brings Nook Logan from the Tigers for a player to be named or cash considerations. A promising rookie in 2004 who has languished in the minors this season, Logan might fill the Nationals' hole in centerfield.

The speedy Logan, 26, hit .264 with a .316 on-base percentage, a .338 slugging percentage and 31 stolen bases in 39 attempts in 176 games over two seasons with Detroit. The outfielder failed to make the big-league club out of spring training and has batted .185 in 19 games with Triple-A Toledo and .247 in 20 games with Double-A Erie.

Late Thursday, the Nationals sent infielder-outfielder Marlon Anderson, a former Devil Ray, and cash to the Dodgers less than an hour after he scored the winner on a wild pitch in the 10th against the Phillies. Washington received pitching prospect Jhonny Nunez.

"As I told Marlon, 'You've got a chance to go to the World Series,' " Bowden said. "They've got a good club, and when you look at the teams that are going to be in the playoffs in our league, the Dodgers and Mets have as good a shot of getting to play an American League team as anybody."

The Nationals also traded first baseman Daryle Ward to Atlanta for Luis Atilano, 21, a pitching prospect who had Tommy John surgery Aug. 10.

CARDS TAB ROOKIE: Right-hander Anthony Reyes will get the first shot at filling left-hander Mark Mulder's spot in St. Louis' rotation when he starts Sunday against the Pirates.

Reyes, 4-6 with a 4.73 ERA, was optioned to Triple-A Memphis in mid August after two difficult starts. He allowed no runs over 13 innings in two starts in the minors.

Reyes said he got away from relying on his fastball in his stint with the Cardinals but returned to power pitching while in the minors.

PHILS ADD BAT: Philadelphia acquired first baseman Randall Simon from the Rangers for cash.

Simon, suspended for three games in 2003 after hitting one of the Brewers' sausage mascots with his bat, last played in the majors on Sept. 7, 2004, with the Devil Rays.

"We don't have no hot dog mascots here," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said, laughing.

CUBS: Left-handers Scott Eyre and Sean Marshall were activated from the 15-day disabled list and right-hander Wade Miller from the 60-day disabled list.

REDS: Right-handed reliever Gary Majewski, whose sore shoulder triggered some sniping after his acquisition from the Nationals, was activated off the 15-day disabled list, one of three moves that added bullpen depth. Former Rays right-hander Jason Standridge was activated off the disabled list and left-hander Brian Shackelford called up from Triple-A Louisville. Majewski was sidelined for three weeks after being part of an eight-player trade, and Cincinnati officials complained Nationals general manager Jim Bowden didn't tell them Majewski had received a cortisone shot before the All-Star break.

RAINOUT: The Braves-Phillies game was postponed because of rain from Ernesto. It was not immediately rescheduled.

[Last modified September 2, 2006, 01:59:28]