Escobar, Tucker Get Minor League Deals
Short's Contract Sold to Japanese Team; Spivey a Free Agent
The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 21, 2005; 12:41 PM
A day after allowing outfielder Alex Escobar and right-handed pitcher T.J. Tucker to become free agents, the Washington Nationals agreed Wednesday to minor league contracts with the pair.
By not offering Escobar and Tucker major league contracts by Tuesday's midnight deadline, Washington removed them from its 40-man roster.
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Escobar did not play this year due to a strained right quadriceps. Tucker is 13-9 with four saves and a 4.57 ERA in five seasons with the Nationals and Expos.
Washington also declined to offer contracts to infielders Junior Spivey and Rick Short.
Spivey was acquired in a June trade with Milwaukee, but then broke his right forearm in July and played in only 28 games for Washington. He is now a free agent.
Washington sold Short's rights to the Tohku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan.