Wood's arrival spells end with Nats for struggling Rosario

James Wood’s arrival date had been known since Friday. What wasn’t known was the identity of the player whose roster spot the Nationals’ top prospect would take.

That question finally was answered this morning when the Nats designated Eddie Rosario for assignment, bringing an end to the veteran outfielder’s frustrating three months with the organization. The 32-year-old hit just .183 with seven homers, 26 RBIs and a .555 OPS in 67 games.

The Nationals had high hopes for Rosario when they signed him to a minor league deal in spring training, assuming all along he would make the Opening Day roster. He did make the club and earned a guaranteed $2 million in the process, with the potential to earn up to $2 million more via performance incentives.

Rosario actually started Opening Day in center field, ahead of Victor Robles, though he eventually settled into the two corner outfield positions, playing in right field while Lane Thomas was on the injured list and then shifting to left field once Thomas returned.

Rosario labored through a miserable April, finishing that month with only six hits in 68 at-bats, one homer and three RBIs. A notorious slow starter, he and club officials insisted things would turn around as the season progressed.

Sure enough, Rosario turned red hot as soon as the calendar shifted to May, delivering a 1.492 OPS and four homers through his first nine games that month, earning National League Player of the Week honors in the process.

But the hot streak didn’t last. Rosario never got his batting average above .190, nor his OPS above .640. And over his final 29 games, he batted .175 with a .458 OPS, ultimately losing playing time and getting only occasional at-bats as designated hitter against right-handers. When he didn’t even start the final two games of this weekend’s series against the Rays, the writing appeared to be on the wall.

“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” manager Davey Martinez said. “I’m not going to sit here and say he was disappointing, because he was a tremendous guy. And I hope there’s another team out there that gives him another shot. It just didn’t work out here for him, but you know his track record. He’s been really good for Atlanta for a lot of years. So I wish him well.”

By designating him for assignment, the Nationals immediately removed Rosario from the 40-man roster. Another club could claim him (and the remaining $1 million he’s guaranteed) off waivers, or the Nats could trade him. If he clears waivers, they likely will release him. At that point, any team that signs him would be responsible only for a prorated portion of the major league minimum, the Nationals on the hook for everything else.

Wood officially takes Rosario’s roster spot, but he’s going to take Jesse Winker’s spot in the field. Martinez said the 21-year-old will play left field in the big leagues, which means Winker gets bumped to the DH role against left-handers – Harold Ramírez is designated hitter tonight against Mets lefty David Peterson – and perhaps a few starts at first base if Joey Meneses sits.