Flores taken aback by Suzuki trade

Today's roster move of the day which surprises absolutely no one: The Nationals optioned John Lannan back to Triple-A Syracuse following today's doubleheader. Lannan was added as the 26th man on the roster due to a new rule which gives teams an extra player for doubleheaders. The Nationals will be making another roster move shortly. This one apparently did surprise someone. Word of today's trade which brought catcher Kurt Suzuki to Washington apparently didn't reach Jesus Flores, who was taken aback after Game 2 of today's doubleheader when asked by reporters about Suzuki's addition bumping him down on the depth chart. "I didn't know," a surprised Flores said. "I just know because you (told me). I didn't know. Nobody has told me anything." "I don't even want to talk about it," he added later. "I'm just in shock. I didn't know we had a new catcher." Flores, who went 0-for-4 in the first game of today's doubleheader and then sat out the nightcap, will lose playing time to Suzuki, who manager Davey Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo have said will assume the lion's share of the starts behind the plate for the Nationals. One Nationals player is quite familiar with Suzuki, and that's Gio Gonzalez, who played four seasons with Suzuki in Oakland from 2008-2011. Gonzalez had nothing but positives to say about his former - and now current - batterymate, who he called a great teammate. "He's aggressive behind the plate," Gonzalez said. "He's definitely going to bring some attitude back there. In a good way. He's going to keep your pitcher on their toes, constantly get 'em and go. He was taught by the best and you're going to see, he's going to bring some positive stuff over here."



Notes and quotes on a slow Saturday
One All-Star outpitched by another
 

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