Nats to trade Vidro to Mariners

[Gallen5862]

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/...3/c1760809.jsp

Nats to trade Vidro to Mariners
12/13/2006 8:31 PM ET
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

The Nationals are expected to trade second baseman Jose Vidro to the Mariners for outfielder Chris Snelling and pitcher Emiliano Fruto.
Vidro has two years left on his contract and Seattle will pick up $12 million of the $16 million remaining, according to baseball sources. The deal is expected to be official on Thursday, pending physicals.

The trade was agreed upon between the two clubs late last week during the Winter Meetings, but both sides needed Vidro's approval because he has a no-trade clause. For approving the trade, according to sources, Vidro was given a vesting option for 2009.

The trade ends Vidro's 10-year run with the Nationals/Expos. Last year, Vidro played in 125 games and hit .289 with seven home runs and 47 RBIs.

Snelling, 25, has big-league experience. He played in a combined 59 games and hit .237 with five home runs and 12 RBIs. Fruto, 22, played in 22 games for the Mariners and had a 5.50 ERA.

The trade means one thing for the Nationals: According to baseball officials, shortstop Felipe Lopez will be switched to second and Cristian Guzman will remain at shortstop.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[deltachi8]

smart getting Felo off ss and over to 2b (though I think he is best at 3b). However, Guzman, seriously? Still?

[BRM]

This trade could make Church expendable.

Chris Snelling's imminent arrival in Washington will likely further increase the chances that Ryan Church is dealt this winter.

Snelling and Church are both left-handed hitters who fit best in left field, though they do have some experience in center. It's unlikely that the Nationals will need both, and Church appeared to be on the way out anyway. We're guessing the starting job will be Snelling's to lose in spring training. Michael Restovich could act as his platoon partner.