The James Wood era has begun in DC, and it means the end of the Eddie Rosario era, as the Nationals designated Rosario for assignment Monday to make room for Wood on the 26-man and 40-man rosters.
Rosario, 32, signed a minor-league deal last winter and was guaranteed a $2 million base salary if he made the MLB team, which he did as part of the Opening Day roster.
However, Rosario hit .088 in April and ended up with a .186/.226/.329 slash line (54 wRC+, or 46 percent below league-average) with seven home runs and 26 RBI in 67 games, with a 23 percent strikeout rate and defense that saw him measured as minus-5 in both defensive runs saved and Outs Above Average.
The Nationals have five days to trade or release Rosario or place him on outright waivers, where if he is not claimed, he could reject an outright assignment and elect free agency. Barring a trade or claim, the Nats will be responsible for the rest of his salary, roughly $950,000 minus the pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum for any days he is on someone else’s MLB roster – but that is ;ikely a small price to pay if Wood, the only Top 3 prospect in baseball among any outlet to NOT reach MLB before June 30, is as advertised.