SB Nation DC - Nationals Pick Up Oakland Catcher Kurt Suzuki In Tradehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-08-04T16:37:59-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29842252012-08-04T16:37:59-04:002012-08-04T16:37:59-04:00Marlins Vs. Nationals: Catcher Sandy Leon Sent Down With Arrival Of Kurt Suzuki
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<p>The Washington Nationals will take on the Florida <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> on Saturday at Nationals Park, and there will be a new player in the Nats clubhouse, former Oakland Athletic <span>Kurt Suzuki</span>. The addition of Suzuki to the roster meant some player movement would be needed, and the team decided to send down young backstop Sandy Leon to Syracuse.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/231847186973990913">Via the team's official twitter feed:</a></p>
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<p>OFFICIAL: <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Nats"><s>#</s><b>Nats</b></a> option C <span>Sandy Leon</span> to <a href="https://twitter.com/syracusechiefs"><s>@</s><b>syracusechiefs</b></a> to clear space for addition of C <a href="https://twitter.com/kurtsuzuki"><s>@</s><b>kurtsuzuki</b></a></p>
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/231847186973990913" data-datetime="2012-08-04T20:20:51+00:00">August 4, 2012</a>
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<p>Suzuki has played six seasons in the major leagues, with manager Davey Johnson referring to him as a No. 1 catcher immediately after the acquisition, so the demotion of Leon should come as no surprise. Leon played in ten games for Washington this season, batting .250 with two runs batted in over 28 at-bats.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and all things <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" target="_blank">Washington Nationals</a> baseball, please check out <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/" target="_blank">Federal Baseball</a>. And as always, please check out the <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">SB Nation MLB Baseball hub page </a>for more on this and every Major League series.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/4/3220209/marlins-vs-nationals-catcher-sandy-leon-sent-downT.J. Doyle2012-08-04T16:11:11-04:002012-08-04T16:11:11-04:00Marlins Vs. Nationals Lineups: New Acquisition Kurt Suzuki Behind The Plate On Saturday Night
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<p>After their split in a day-night doubleheader on Friday, the Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins are back at it again Saturday in the third matchup of a four-game weekend set. New acquisition <span>Kurt Suzuki</span> will be behind the plate for Washington when they take the field at Nats Park.</p>
<p>The full Washington lineup, <a href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/231835912265420800">via @NationalsPR:</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Nationals"><s>#</s><b>Nationals</b></a> lineup vs. MIA - Espinosa 6, Harper 9, Zimmerman 5, Morse 7, LaRoche 3, Werth 8, Suzuki 2, Lombardozzi 4, Zimmermann 1</p>
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) <a data-datetime="2012-08-04T19:36:03+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/231835912265420800">August 4, 2012</a>
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<p>The Florida lineup, <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/231839143125196801">courtesy of the Marlins official twitter feed:</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Marlins"><s>#</s><b>Marlins</b></a> lineup vs. WAS: Petersen LF, Cousins RF, Reyes SS, Lee 1B, Dobbs 3B, Solano 2B, Hernandez CF, Buck C, Buehrle P</p>
— <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Miami Marlins</a> (@Marlins) <a data-datetime="2012-08-04T19:48:53+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/231839143125196801">August 4, 2012</a>
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<p><i>For more on this and all things <a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> baseball, please check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a>. And as always, please check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation MLB Baseball hub page </a>for more on this and every Major League series.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/4/3220174/marlins-vs-nationals-lineups-kurt-suzukiT.J. Doyle2012-08-03T15:01:30-04:002012-08-03T15:01:30-04:00Nationals Trade For Oakland Catcher Kurt Suzuki
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<p>The Washington Nationals traded minor league catcher David Freitas to the Oakland Athletics for catcher Kurt Suzuki. There is no word when Suzuki will be available to catch for the Nationals.</p> <p>Though the non-waiver trade deadline passed on Tuesday, moves can still be made courtesy of the waiver wires. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> made such a move on Friday afternoon as they traded catchers with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a>, trading minor league catcher <span>David Freitas</span> for Athletics catcher <span>Kurt Suzuki</span>.</p>
<p>Suzuki has been a regular catcher for the Athletics since 2008, starting the second most games of any catcher in that span only behind <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Cardinals</a> catcher <span>Yadier Molina</span>. Suzuki's stats with the Athletics are pretty good for a catcher and with the Nationals needing some help at that position, this trade could help the Nationals as the season draws to a close.</p>
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<p>Suzuki is a .254 (643-for-2530) career hitter with 134 doubles, 57 home runs, 302 RBI and a .689 OPS in 703 games spanning six seasons (2007-present) with Oakland. Defensively, Suzuki leads all qualified American League catchers in fielding percentage (.996), caught stealings (23) and caught-stealing percentage (38.3%).</p>
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<p>There is no indication when Suzuki could be available to play for the Nationals. It seems unlikely that he will make it to D.C. in time for the Nationals' doubleheader on Friday night, though he could be available on Saturday if he arrives early enough.</p>
<p>Freitas, a 15th round selection in the 2010 player draft, was playing for high single-A Potomac at the time of the trade, hitting .271.</p>
<p>This is a suprising trade that the Nationals have made in advance of Friday's doubleheader against the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Marlins</a>. In the first game, the Nationals will sit both outfielders <span>Bryce Harper</span> and <span>Michael Morse</span>. Pitcher <span>John Lannan</span> was called up to start the first game of the doubleheader and hopes to lead the Nationals to a win and extend their two and a half game lead in the NL East.</p>
<p>Here is the rest of the Nationals' lineup.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Nationals"><s>#</s><b>Nationals</b></a> 8/3 Game 1 Lineup: Espinosa SS, Lombo 2B, Zim 3B, Werth CF, LaRoche 1B, Moore LF, DeRosa RF, Flores C, Lannan LHP</p>
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/231448839490502656" data-datetime="2012-08-03T17:57:58+00:00">August 3, 2012</a>
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<p>The game is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. first pitch from Nationals Park. Television coverage will be provided by MASN 2 with radio coverage on 106.7 The Fan FM, 1500 WFED AM and 1580 WHFS AM.</p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/3/3218110/nationals-trade-for-catcher-kurt-suzuki-bryce-harper-michael-morse-out-game-1Tim Blank