Nationals Claim Slaten
November 5th, 2009
The Nationals claimed LHRP Doug Slaten off of waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 29-year old Slaten has pitched in parts of four seasons for the Diamondbacks as a lefty specialist out of the bullpen. He has appeared in 126 major league games (80 2/3IP) with a 1.46 WHIP, 3.68 ERA, and 55K/31BB. A quick search of the internet turned up this scouting report:
Slaten’s slider looks like his best pitch. It flies in the low-80s with good sweeping action. Against LH batters he will use this pitch off the outside corner to get them to chase. Doug’s fastball looks very straight, but has decent velocity, which has makes him tough on LHs. When facing RHs, Slaten will bring out his straight changeup. In the past he has also shown a very slow curveball. 5/8/08 CSJ
fastball(89-92), slider(79-82), changeup(81-85)
A lefthanded option for the bullpen. Slaten appears to still not be arbitration-eligible (2.031 entering 2009 and it does not appear he had enough service time for Super Two status). I would imagine his option years have all been used but I will have to double check that.
Categories: Players
Interesting pick up. If he works out, should help the bull pen.
Brian: what is the status of most of your “unknown DSL” list???
Jeff – I am going to guess they were released. If they don’t appear anywhere in 2010, I’ll move them to the released list
So, Brian, the seeding of the farm by Rizzo and Co. may not be earthshattering evidenced by the addition of guys like Slaten, Fermaint and Jesus Valdez ( two re-signs). Yet again Rule V in December in Indpls. could be fun. 150-200 grand spent on some farmhands??
While I haven’t yet looked up Slaten’s MiLB results for 2009, he looks like a possible replacement candidate for Villone.
Chad Tracy or Ross Gload next F/A invitees to camp??? quite a kid named Johnson out of Cocoa Beach heading to Florida Gators.