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A day after trading for former Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes, the Nationals officially added him to their roster, and made room for him by designating pinch hitter Matt Stairs for assignment.
Stairs, 43, made the team out of spring training with the thinking that the game's all-time leader in pinch homers could add some spark to the Nationals' bench. But he looked overmatched all season, hitting .154/.257/.169 without a homer and only one extra-base hit.
The Nationals liked his veteran presence in the clubhouse - teammate Jayson Werth said Stairs had been like a second hitting coach to him when the two played together in Philadelphia - but he struck out in 23 of his 65 at-bats, and quickly became a target of fan frustrations.
Stairs could go to the minor leagues if he clears waivers and accepts an assignment to Triple-A Syracuse, but it's hard to believe he wouldn't ask for his release and try to catch on with another team.
