Nationals add Jonny Gomes to 25-man roster; Matt Stairs designated for assignment

By Josh Land

Nationals

July 27, 2011, 10:46am

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The Washington Nationals today added outfielder Jonny Gomes to their 25-man roster and designated outfielder/first baseman Matt Stairs for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. On Tuesday, Gomes was acquired along with cash considerations from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfielder Bill Rhinehart and left-handed pitcher Chris Manno. Gomes is a career .244 hitter with 109 doubles, 115 home runs and 352 RBIs in 738 career games spanning portions of nine big league seasons with Cincinnati (2009-11) and Tampa Bay (2003-08). Thanks to 254 walks, Gomes sports a .330 career on-base percentage. The 30-year-old Gomes has averaged more than 17 home runs per campaign since 2005, despite only receiving more than 400 at-bats once. Three times since 2005, Gomes has hit 20 or more home runs in a single season. Stairs, 43, batted .154 with one double and two RBIs in 56 games this season with Washington.