Guzman traded to Rangers for prospects

The Nationals have traded infielder Cristian Guzman to the Rangers for pitching prospects Ryan Tatusko and Tanner Roark.
According to general manager Mike Rizzo, the trade is expected to be approved by the league office by Saturday. Guzman is a 10-and-5 player — 10 years in the big leagues and five years with the same club — and needed to approve the trade. He already packed his belongings in the Nationals’ clubhouse.
“Guzzie was upbeat and positive,” Rizzo said. “He obviously had to OK the trade,NFL Hats, because he had 10-5 rights. It’s not an official trade until the paperwork goes through. In 24 hours,cheap Chicago Cubs Hats, it will be official by the Commissioner’s Office.”
Guzman,Wholesale New Era Hats, 32,St Louis Cardinals Hats, is making $8 million in the final year of his contract this season. It is unclear whether or not the Nationals are taking on some of his remaining prorated salary.
Guzman,Cheap New Era MLB Hats, an original member of the Nationals, was hitting .282 with two home runs and 25 RBIs this season. He played most of the year at second base after playing his first 11 seasons in the Majors at shortstop.
With the Rangers, Guzman will initially play every day at second base because of an injury to Ian Kinsler. Once Kinsler returns to action,Cheap New York Yankees Hats, Guzman will be a utility player.
Guzman is a free agent after the season, and the Nationals were not going to give him an extension. Guzman’s best season in Washington was in 2008,Cheap NBA Hats, when he hit .316 with nine homers and 55 RBIs.
“We decided to move Cristian to the Rangers,” Rizzo said. “They needed an infielder with Kinsler going down. We have two good young Double-A prospects that will help our inventory — two starting candidates. It’s a trade — veteran player for prospects.”
With Guzman gone,Seattle Mariners Hats sale, the Nationals are going to have a platoon at second base between Adam Kennedy and Alberto Gonzalez. Kennedy, who started the season as the everyday second baseman and lost his job to Guzman by May,Chicago White Sox Hats, is hitting .252 with two homers and 17 RBIs.
Gonzalez has a .294 batting average with three RBIs in 67 games. He was given a chance to become the everyday second baseman last year,cheap Toronto Blue Jays Hats, but he fell short, ending the season hitting .265 with a home run and 33 RBIs.
After the season comes to an end, trying to acquire a second baseman will be a top priority for the Nationals. There is a possibility that the team could go with Danny Espinosa by late next year.
In Tatusko, the Nationals get a highly touted pitching prospect. He has served as a starter and reliever, going 9-2 with a 2.97 ERA in 24 games — 13 starts — for Double-A Frisco.
Roark also played for Frisco, going 10-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games — 17 starts.
Tatusko and Roark will not be ready for the big leagues until possibly 2012.