The Washington Nationals have stated a desire to improve their bench. They've done just that, inking journeyman Matt Stairs to a non-guaranteed minor league contract with a spring training invitation, according to the team.
The well-traveled Stairs will be 43 at the start of next season and has played for a record-tying 12 teams. If he makes the Nationals, he will officially become the biggest journeyman in MLB history. Stairs spent last season with the San Diego Padres, hitting .232 with six home runs and 16 RBIs in 111 plate appearances as a pinch hitter. His best season was way back in 1999, when he hit 38 home runs as a member of the Oakland Athletics.
Stairs is the all-time leader in pinch-hit home runs, with 23. He can still certainly pop a ball out of the park, even at his advanced age. He was a key bench cog for the Padres last year as they went on their surprising run, both on the field and in the clubhouse. However, he's certainly not a solution to the team's first base vacancy.