The Nationals have signed 28-year old righty swinging outfielder Jeff Frazier to a minor league deal. Frazier played in 9 games for the Tigers last season and he was 5 of 23 (.217 avg, .511 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI. He also played in 123 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 122 of 477 (.256 avg, .799 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 25 homers, 73 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Frazier will get a chance to win a bench job for the Nationals in 2011 next spring.

The Nationals have lost 23-year old righty reliever/starter Juan Jaime on waivers to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jaime missed all of last season due to elbow reconstruction so the Nationals thought they could get him through waivers but they were wrong. Jaime pitched in 42 games (14 starts) in four years in the minors for the Nationals and he was 10-3 with 1 save, a 2.42 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. They might regret this move down the road.

The Nationals have signed 27-year old righty reliever Tim Wood to a minor league deal. Wood pitched in 26 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last season and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 5.53 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. He has now pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in his two years in the majors and he is 1-1 with 1 save, a 4.32 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Wood will get a chance to make the Nationals’ pen as a long man next spring.

28-year old righty reliever Joe Bisenius has elected to leave the Nationals rather than accepting a minor league assignment from them. Bisenius pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 0-0 with a 9.64 ERA and a 2.57 WHIP. He also pitched in 34 games in A+AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 4-0 with 1 save, a 3.05 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Bisenius has a good arm so he will get a chance with another team next spring.

UPDATE: (12/21/2010) - The Nationals have re-signed Joe Bisenius to a minor league deal.

26-year old lefty reliever Jesse English has decided to become a free agent. English pitched in 7 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He also pitched in 19 games (0 starts) in Rookie+AAA-ball last year and he was 2-1 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. English will likely find another job this winter as long as he proves he’s healthy.