Cabrera activated, Barrett optioned; Lobaton talks trade (plus lineup)

The Nationals officially activated infielder Asdrubal Cabrera today and optioned right-handed reliever Aaron Barrett to Triple-A Syracuse. The club acquired Cabrera and cash considerations yesterday in exchange for infielder Zach Walters. Cabrera has made 149 starts at second base in his career and is a career .270 hitter. The 26-year-old Barrett is 3-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 40 appearances for the Nationals. Blake Treinen, who was called up Thursday, will remain with the team. Nationals catcher Jose Lobaton played with the newly acquired Cabrera, a fellow Venezuelan, for one season with Leones del Caracas in 2011. He also played on Cabrera's team in his minor league rookie campaign. The 28-year-old Cabrera, who is from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, will make his Nationals debut tonight batting seventh and playing second base. Lobaton, from Acarigua, Venezuela, shared his thoughts regarding Cabrera when the news of the trade was announced. "I don't know him personally, but I have seen him play," the 29-year-old Lobaton said. "He's a good guy. When he's hitting, I talk to him. Before the game if we get a chance to talk, we talk. "He was a nice guy. Good teammate. He's really good infield. He's really good hitter. He's got power both sides. Cabrera averaged 34 doubles a season from 2011-13. His batting average in September and October is 2.85, the best monthly split in his career. "He can hit balls hard, he can get doubles," Lobaton said. "With the hands, he's really good in the infield. That's what I seen a lot. I think two years ago that he made a lot of plays in the big leagues. It was in the ESPN Top Ten all the time." Lobaton said acquiring a talented veteran like Cabrera was a smart move by the club, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Ryan Zimmerman's hamstring injury. Some reports suggest Zimmerman could miss the rest of the regular season. A starting shortstop/second baseman of the caliber of Cabrera is a good pickup. "Hopefully sometimes you get a trade, you get better," Lobaton said. "We need a guy right now with Zim hurt. We need a guy that can help the team. He got traded here because everybody believes he can do something good here." For the Nationals CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Bryce Harper 2B Asdrubal Cabrera C Wilson Ramos RHP Doug Fister