MIAMI -- Still unable to perform baseball activities because of a left big toe injury, Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth is still not ready to return to the big league club.
"We were hoping he would join us here," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "But he's still receiving therapy and we'll see him when we get home. I'm hoping he's getting better."
Werth suffered the injury after fouling a ball off his left foot in the Nationals' 10-4 loss to the A's on June 3, and went on the 10-day DL two days later. While the swelling has decreased since then, Baker said he's been limited to swimming and core exercises.
As of now, Baker said there is no timetable for when Werth might return to the club, or when he'll play in any rehab games.
"He has to get the toe right first, before he can go rehab," Baker said. "Anybody that's ever hurt their toe knows it takes a while to heal. And then you have to have a period of time when you've gotta get back into baseball swing."
The 38-year-old is hitting .262 with eight home runs in 47 games this season.
Ryan Raburn was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and has hit .262 with one triple and two runs in nine games, and Brian Goodwin has hit .235 with three homers and six RBIs in 13 games since June 5.
Baker said he's been satisfied with Raburn's and Goodwin's production, but added that Werth's bat is missed.
"You know, we miss Jayson. We miss him big time," he said. "He's a big presence on this team and one of the real leaders on this team. But in the meantime, we've gotta do what we have to do until Jayson gets back."