The Washington Nationals selected the contract of outfielder Alejandro De Aza from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday and placed outfielder Brian Goodwin on the 10-day disabled list (retroactive to Aug. 14) with a left groin strain. Additionally, the Nationals transferred shortstop Trea Turner on the 60-day disabled list. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
De Aza, 33, joins the Nationals for his first Major League assignment of the season. A veteran of parts of nine Major League seasons, De Aza will make Washington his sixth MLB home. Signed as a Minor League free agent on June 14, De Aza has hit .280 with 11 doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI, 25 walks, two stolen bases, and 30 runs scored in 56 games at Triple-A.
A career .261 hitter who has extensive Major League experience at all three outfield spots (LF: 323 games; CF: 363 games; RF: 88 games), De Aza spent the 2016 season with the New York Mets and was a non-roster invitee to the Oakland Athletics' 2017 Spring Training.
Originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent in 2001, the Dominican Republic-native was a Rule 5 draft selection of the Florida Marlins in 2004, for whom he made his Major League debut in 2007. In addition to Florida and New York, De Aza has played for Chicago (AL), Baltimore, Boston, and San Francisco.
Goodwin, 26, has hit .251 this season for the Nationals with 21 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 30 RBI, 23 walks, six stolen bases, and 41 runs scored. Appearing at all three outfield positions, Goodwin is also tied for second among all National League rookies (tied for third in MLB) in doubles with 21.
Turner, 24, has been on the disabled list since June 30 with a right wrist fracture. Prior to the injury, he was hitting .279 with 13 doubles, four triples, seven homers, 32 RBI, 35 stolen bases and 53 runs scored. He posted a .324 on-base percentage and a .422 slugging percentage along the way.