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The Nationals put Carlos Maldonado on the DL this afternoon after the catcher - who was called up as an injury replacement for Ivan Rodriguez - was placed on the 15-day DL with a left thumb fracture. They also released Chris Coste, who had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow earlier this season. To replace Maldonado, the Nationals called up Jamie Burke - who had been recovering from knee surgery.
To sum up: They've had five catchers on the DL this season (Maldonado, Rodriguez, Burke, Coste and Jesus Flores) and haven't had their top two catchers healthy at the same time since May 2009. Only Wil Nieves has been able to stay off the DL this year, and even he went on the DL for a short stint last season. And top prospect Derek Norris was hit in the head by a pitch at Single-A Potomac earlier this year. So was Brian Peacock, his replacement.
Going further back, Josh Bard played through a pulled groin much of last season, and Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada - whom the Nationals paid a combined $6.25 million in 2008 - spent much of that season on the DL before they were both released.
Think Bryce Harper might want to think twice about coming here? There seems to be an epidemic of unhealthy catchers.
