July 13, 200520 yr Washington add LHP Mike Stanton to bullpen The Washington Nationals today signed free-agent left-handed pitcher Mike Stanton and returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Ryan Church from the 15-Day Disabled List. To make room on the roster, the Nationals placed both infielder Junior Spivey (right radius fracture, retroactive to July 9) and infielder Tony Blanco (vertigo associated with a sinus infection, retroactive to July 11) on the 15-Day Disabled List, and transferred infielder Henry Mateo from the 15- to the 60-Day Disabled List. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcements. Stanton joins the Nationals after appearing in 28 games for New York (AL) earlier this season. By signing with Washington, Stanton returns to the National League East, where last season, while pitching for New York (NL), he posted a 2.88 ERA (8 ER/25.0 IP) and a .211 (20-for-95) batting average against while facing division foes Atlanta, Florida and Philadelphia. Stanton, 38, brings significant pennant-race and post-season experience to a Nationals bullpen that already leads MLB in both relief wins and saves. Stanton has pitched in 11 post-seasons (1991-93, '95-2002) with Atlanta, Boston, Texas and New York, including six Fall Classics that have resulted in a trio of World Championship rings. Stanton joins Joey Eischen as a second left-handed pitcher in the Nationals' bullpen. In 17 big league seasons, Stanton has limited opposing left-handed batters at a .245 mark (323-for-1320), an attractive attribute considering Carlos Delgado, Jim Thome, Bobby Abreu and Cliff Floyd all reside in the NL East. A 2001 American League All-Star, Stanton is 58-52 with 236 holds, 76 saves and a 3.81 ERA in 996 major league games (one start).
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