The Washington Nationals announced the following roster moves Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements:
Acquired infielder Alcides Escobar from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations and selected him to the active roster
Designated infielder Humberto Arteaga for assignment
Recalled catcher Tres Barrera from Triple-A Rochester
Recalled outfielder Yadiel Hernandez from Triple-A Rochester
Placed catcher Alex Avila on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to July 2) with bilateral calf strains
Placed outfielder Kyle Schwarber on the 10-day Injured List with a right hamstring strain
Escobar, 34, joins the Nationals after hitting .274 with seven doubles, five homers, 16 RBI, six walks, two stolen bases and 23 runs scored in 35 games for Triple-A Omaha in Kansas City’s Minor League system. He played shortstop (24 G), second base (8 G) and third base (2 G).
Escobar returns to the Major Leagues for the first time since 2018 when he appeared in 140 games for the Royals. He was a member of the 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals. He was named an American League All-Star and a Gold Glove winner during that 2015 season.
Escobar spent the 2020 season with the Yakult Swallows of the Japan Central League where he hit .273 with 14 doubles, two triples, one homer, 30 RBI, 13 walks, six stolen bases and 27 runs scored in 104 games.
Barrera, 26, joins the Nationals for the second time this season, making one start on April 7 vs. Atlanta. He hit .224 with five doubles, three homers, 14 RBI, 17 walks and 11 runs scored in 37 games for Triple-A Rochester.
Hernandez, 33, hit .309 with two doubles, five homers, 12 RBI, five walks and nine runs scored for Triple-A Rochester. He joined them on July 12 after appearing in 42 games for the Nationals in his first stint with the club this season.
Arteaga, 27, appeared in one game for the Nationals, going 0-for-3 with one RBI on July 2 vs. Los Angeles (NL).
Avila, 34, is hitting .167 with six doubles, one triple, six RBI, 17 walks and four runs scored in 24 games.
Schwarber, 28, was recently named National League Player of the Month for June after hitting 16 home runs during the month. He ranks in the National League in home runs (2nd, 25), slugging percentage (5th, .570), RBI (T5th, 53) and OPS (7th, .910).
Please see the attached document for the updated 26-man and 40-man rosters.
