Lewis, Macias among Nationals' cuts03/19/2007 5:55 PM ET
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
LINK:
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070319&content_id=1850660&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=wasVIERA, Fla. -- Pitchers Colby Lewis and Luis Martinez, infielders Jose Macias and Jorge Toca and outfielder Wayne Lydon were unconditionally released on Monday by the Nationals.
All five players started the spring in Major League camp, but their lack of production forced the team to reassign them to the Minor League side. The Nationals then realized that none of those players were going to see a lot of playing time at Triple-A Columbus, so the team thought it would be best to let them go.
The biggest names were Lewis, Macias and Lydon. Lewis was competing for a spot in the rotation, but he was hit hard, giving up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings. Lewis had an out clause that stated that he could be released by March 28 to seek employment elsewhere. Washington decided to grant him his wish nine days early.
"We really expected Colby to be better than what we saw. It was strictly a numbers game," said Bob Boone, the team's vice president of player development. "We signed all of these free agents -- too many at the end of the day. I didn't have room based on the way he pitched. [General manager] Jim [Bowden] didn't have room at the Major League level. We felt it would be better to tell him now, so he would have an opportunity to get a job. He's really a good guy."
Macias was competing to be a backup infielder and outfielder, but the acquisition of Ronnie Belliard and the emergence of Chris Snelling made Macias expendable. When Macias was sent down last week, he informed manager Manny Acta that he would accept an assignment to Columbus.
"We are crowded in the outfield, depending on who comes down from the big club, and we didn't see where we had room for him," Boone said.
Lydon is only 25 years old, but is a nine-year Minor League veteran. The club felt it had better defensive outfielders and players who could provide more power than Lydon could. His career high in home runs is nine.
"Here's a guy with some numbers and some speed certainly, but the end of the day, he's going to get squeezed out," Boone said. "It wasn't about competing. We felt we had seen enough."
