Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Accepts minor-league assignment
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Stevenson informed the Nationals on Sunday that he intends to accept his outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Stevenson had the right to refuse the assignment and pursue his options in free agency after he cleared waivers earlier in the weekend, but he'll instead stick around with the only organization he's ever known. The 27-year-old outfielder has seen big-league action in each of the past five seasons, but his lack of a 40-man roster spot could hinder his chances of resurfacing with the Nationals at any point in 2022.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Outrighted off roster
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Stevenson cleared waivers and was outrighted to the minors Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Stevenson is out of options, so it had looked previously as though he had a good chance to win a bench spot. The Nationals will instead go a different route, which can't be too surprising given Stevenson's career .248/.322/.365 slash line across parts of five seasons. He has the right to refuse an outright assignment, so he may wind up on the open market rather than with Triple-A Rochester.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Likely to win roster spot
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Stevenson is out of minor-league options, giving him an edge in the battle for a spot on the Nationals' bench this spring, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The 27-year-old saw the most action of his career last season but failed to seize the opportunity, managing only a .633 OPS in 213 plate appearances with a 28.6 percent strikeout rate against only a 6.1 percent walk rate. Assuming he's on the Opening Day roster, Stevenson has a path to significant playing time again in 2022 as the Nats' outfield isn't exactly set aside from Juan Soto, but his profile doesn't suggest he'd be a fantasy asset even in a starting role.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Avoids arbitration with Nationals
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Stevenson signed a one-year deal with the Nationals on Monday, avoiding arbitration, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Juan Soto is the only Nationals outfielder locked into an everyday role. Stevenson will compete with Lane Thomas and Yadiel Hernandez for at-bats, but he tentatively lines up to fill more of a fourth outfielder role. He hit .229/.294/.339 in 192 at-bats last season.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Back to reserve role
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Stevenson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.
Stevenson went 1-for-10 with two walks and two RBI while making three consecutive starts in left field from Thursday through Saturday, but he's poised to finish the season in a fourth-outfielder role after Yadiel Hernandez was reinstated from the paternity list Saturday.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Productive in matinee
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Stevenson went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI during an 11-9 loss to the Mets in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.
The 27-year-old didn't even start the matinee, but after Erick Fedde got chased early, Stevenson entered the game as part of a double switch in the fourth inning and helped fuel a comeback from a 9-0 deficit, sending the game to extra innings with a two-run blast off Seth Lugo in the seventh. He then got the start in left field in the nightcap and went 1-for-3. Until Saturday, Stevenson had seen little playing time since taking Victor Robles' spot on the big-league roster at the end of August, but his efforts may have earned him a bigger role in the outfield mix over the final weeks.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Back in big leagues
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Stevenson was recalled by the Nationals on Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Stevenson swaps places with Victor Robles on the Nationals' outfield depth chart after Robles was sent down. Stevenson was claiming at-bats from Robles in late July, but he's hit just .215/.272/.309 this season, so he's unlikely to be featured frequently down the stretch. Lane Thomas, who's hit a surprising .310/.408/.452 in 13 games since joining the team at the deadline, is likely to remain the primary center fielder, at least until he cools down.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Heads to minors
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The Nationals optioned Stevenson to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Having not started a game since Aug. 12, Stevenson was merely a depth outfielder and now makes way for Kyle McGowin (biceps) to return from the injured list. The 27-year-old has slashed .215/.272/.309 in 164 plate appearances this season -- uninspiring numbers that don't merit a quick return to the big-league level.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Stuck on bench
Rotowire
Stevenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Even with Washington dealing away several veteran bats ahead of Friday's trade deadline, Stevenson still looks to be relegated to fourth-outfielder duties. He'll be on the bench for the second straight day while Washington rolls out an outfield of Victor Robles, Yadiel Hernandez and Juan Soto.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Not starting third straight
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Stevenson is out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game Tuesday against the Phillies, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
It appeared that Stevenson was in the process of overtaking Victor Robles as the Nationals' primary center fielder, as he got the nod in five of six games prior to Sunday. However, Stevenson will now take a seat for the third straight game, this time against left-hander Matt Moore. It's not entirely clear how Washington plans on handling its center-field situation going forward, but some sort of platoon between Stevenson and Robles could be the most likely scenario.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Takes seat Monday
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Stevenson isn't starting Monday against the Phillies.
Even with right-hander Spencer Howard starting for Philadelphia on Monday, Sevenson will retreat to the bench for a second straight contest. Victor Robles will start in center field and bat eighth.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Sitting versus lefty
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Stevenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The lefty-hitting Stevenson will take a seat in the series finale with southpaw John Means on the mound, but the Nationals appear committed to giving the 27-year-old regular at-bats against right-handed pitching at the expense of the struggling Victor Robles. Stevenson started in center field in five of the past six games, going 3-for-14 with two doubles, two walks, two RBI, one run and one stolen base.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Stays with team, starting Monday
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The Nationals recalled Stevenson from Triple-A Rochester on Monday. He'll start in center field and bat sixth in Washington's series opener with Miami.
After serving as the Nationals' 27th man for Sunday's pseudo-doubleheader with the Padres, Stevenson was optioned back to Rochester earlier Monday to bring Washington's roster back to 26. The Nationals ultimately reserved the transaction and optioned reliever Andres Machado instead of Stevenson, a move that perhaps hints that center fielder Victor Robles isn't completely healthy. Robles will be out of the lineup for a second straight game Monday, allowing Stevenson to pick up another start after he went 1-for-2 with a stolen base in Sunday's 8-7 win.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Moves back to Rochester
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The Nationals optioned Stevenson to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.
Stevenson's stay with the Nationals lasted one day after the club designated him as its 27th man for Sunday's game against the Padres, which was proceeded by a resumption of the contest that was suspended Saturday. He started in center field for a resting Victor Robles in the series finale, going 1-for-2 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Called up, starting Sunday
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The Nationals recalled Stevenson from Triple-A Rochester ahead of Sunday's game against the Padres, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com. He'll start in center field and bat sixth in the series finale, according to Jessica Camerato of MLB.com.
Washington is appointing Stevenson as its 27th man for the contest, which is being treated similarly to a doubleheader game after the Nationals and Padres resumed Saturday's suspended contest earlier Sunday. Stevenson will likely be sent back to Rochester after Sunday's contest, but he'll pick up a spot start in place of Victor Robles, who gets a breather after he previously experienced a bout of dizziness earlier in the series.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
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Stevenson (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Rochester, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
An oblique strain had sidelined Stevenson since June 18, before which he hit .227 with two homers and 10 RBI in 97 at-bats. The need for Stevenson in D.C. is minimal now that Alcides Escobar is an everyday second baseman for the Nationals and Josh Harrison has settled into left field, so he'll instead go to Triple-A. Given his position in the organization, though, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Stevenson with the Nationals again at some point in 2021.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Rehab assignment on tap
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Stevenson (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Stevenson has been on the 10-day injured list since June 18 due to an oblique strain, but he's been ramping up his activity recently. The 27-year-old is expected to have a short rehab assignment, but the team wanted him to get some live reps before he's cleared to rejoin the major-league club.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Takes part in defensive drills
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Stevenson (oblique) was spotted on the field Wednesday taking grounders and shagging fly balls, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.
While he works back from an oblique strain, Stevenson is gradually incorporating more baseball activities into his rehab program. The 27-year-old was able to take swings off a tee Monday, and his ability to add defensive work to the mix a couple days later suggests a rehab assignment could be on the horizon.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Hits off tee
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Stevenson (oblique) took swings off a tee Monday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Stevenson still doesn't have a clear timetable for his return to game action, but his hitting session Monday marked the first time he had hit off a tee since he was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday. The 27-year-old could increase his activity level in the near future, but Gerardo Parra should continue to serve as Washington's fourth outfielder while Stevenson is sidelined.
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Nationals' Andrew Stevenson: Lengthy absence awaits
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Nationals manager Dave Martinez acknowledged Sunday that Stevenson (oblique) likely won't resume swinging a bat until next week and could be facing an extended absence, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Stevenson appears to be dealing with at least a moderate oblique strain, so he won't be a candidate to return from the injured list when first eligible June 27. The Nationals called up Gerardo Parra from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday to serve as their fourth outfielder while Stevenson is on the mend.
