The Washington Nationals made a pair of low-profile roster moves Monday afternoon, claiming infielder Derek Hill off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and optioning outfielder Stone Garrett to Triple-A Rochester to clear the corresponding roster spot.
Hill, 27, provides utility depth at second and third base. He slashed .241/.307/.389 in 44 games with Cincinnati this season before being designated for assignment last week. He offers the ability to play multiple positions and has shown enough defensive versatility to be a useful bench piece in a pinch.
What This Move Tells Us
The Nationals have been shorthanded at infield depth with Ildemaro Vargas nursing a hamstring issue. Hill gives Dave Martinez a right-handed bat off the bench who can play multiple positions — something the roster has been lacking.
Garrett, who had struggled to find consistent at-bats at the big-league level, will get regular playing time in Rochester. The move makes sense for both sides.