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Nats' options, patience with Speigner end

June 21, 2007 1:41 am

BY TODD JACOBSON

WASHINGTON--The Nationals would have liked to tuck Levale Speigner away in the deep recesses of the bullpen for an entire season, but a rash of injuries forced the right-hander into the starting rotation last month.

There, the Nationals could hide him no longer, and Washington's 2-month experiment with the Rule 5 draft pick ended yesterday when he was designated for assignment.

Speigner had to remain on Washington's 25-man roster this season. Now, he must clear waivers before being offered back to his former team, the Minnesota Twins, for $25,000.

Speigner was only part of a flurry of transactions before yesterday's game. Outfielder Brandon Watson and right-handers Luis Ayala and Chris Schroder were added to Washington's 25-man roster and right-hander Winston Abreu was also designated for assignment yesterday.

"We gave Levale an opportunity," Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said. "The results were what they were."

Speigner was 2-3 with an 8.77 ERA in 19 games, but he struggled mightily when he became a starter in May. In six starts, he was 1-3 with an 11.79 ERA.

The lone highlight was a seven-inning, two-hit masterpiece against the Twins June 9, but it wasn't enough to keep him around. Bowden spoke with Minnesota about a trade that would enable the Nats to send Speigner to the minors yesterday, but would not comment on the progress of any deal.

"It wasn't easy, but we got to the conclusion that we could no longer hide him anymore," Nationals manager Manny Acta said, "and also looking at the future, we saw him more as a middle [reliever] and we thought that we have some guys in line down there that could probably fill that role."

Ayala hasn't pitched in the majors since 2005 and is still only 15 months removed from ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow, so the Nationals will take it slowly with their former set-up man.

But he'll still be an upgrade to Washington's bullpen, Acta said. Before he was injured pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic last year, Ayala had a 2.75 ERA in 214 major league appearances.

"It's a big addition," Acta said. "We're going to have to be very careful, but still you have to be able to realize that having Ayala, it's a little bit better than having some guys with no experience whatsoever in the bullpen."

Schroder, 28, pitched in 21 games with the Nationals last season, but he worked to refine his slider this winter and was 2-2 with a 1.64 ERA with Triple-A Columbus. He struck out 45 batters in 33 innings.

"I know my fastball is my best pitch and locating it and moving it around, but adding something else helps out," Schroder said.

As Watson walked through the Nationals' clubhouse before yesterday's game, Bowden approached him, welcoming him back to the majors. Watson hit .330 in 57 games with Triple-A Columbus, setting an International League record along the way with a 43-game hitting streak.

"Start a new one up here tonight," Bowden said. "They only count up here, you know that right?"

Watson was released after nine games as Washington's opening day center fielder a year ago, and he re-signed with the franchise in April after stints with the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers.

He'll get at least a slight chance to prove himself. He started in center field yesterday and is likely to get a brief look.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on the kid," Acta said. "I'm going to put him out there and I'm going to expect out of him the same thing I expect out of everybody here: Have quality at-bats and help us win a ballgame."

Right-hander Jason Bergmann (sore right elbow) allowed three hits and one run yesterday in what is believed to be his final rehabilitation appearance with Triple-A Columbus. Bergmann is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves.

Right-hander Jerome Williams cleared waivers and was assigned to Double-A Harrisburg, where he had been on a rehabilitation stint. Williams was 0-5 with a 7.20 ERA in six starts before heading to the disabled list with a strained right shoulder May 16.