The Nationals have placed 35-year old righty swinging IF/OF Jerry Hairston on the 15-day disabled list due to a fractured right wrist. Hairston has played in 69 games for the Nationals so far this year and he is 51 for 196 (.260 avg, .687 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 2 homers, 17 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. This will hurt the Nationals bench as Hairston can play pretty much everywhere in the field. He will miss the next 2-4 weeks.

The Nationals have signed 35-year old lefty reliever J.C. Romero to a minor league deal. Romero pitched in 24 games (0 starts) earlier this year for the Phillies and he was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He has now pitched in 652 games (22 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 33-28 with 7 saves, a 4.07 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Romero is more than a little wild as he has walked 369 batters in his first 641 innings in the majors but he has still be effective the last few years. If Romero gets off to a good start in the minors, look for the Nationals to call him up quickly.

UPDATE: (7/15/2011) - The Nationals have released J.C. Romero and he was quickly signed by the Yankees. Romero pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Nationals and he was 0-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a 0.57 WHIP.

24-year old lefty starting pitcher Tom Milone has been really solid for the Nationals in AAA-ball this year. Milone came into this season as the Nationals’ #16 prospect according to Baseball America. Milone has pitched in 14 games (all starts) in AAA-ball for the Nationals this year and he is 6-5 with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He has only walked 5 hitters while whiffing 95 batters in his first 89 2/3 innings in AAA-ball this year. Milone has now pitched in 81 games (76 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 31-21 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has only walked 73 batters in his first 458 innings in the minors. I have a feeling that Milone is going to get his first taste of the majors at some point in 2011.

Ex-manager Jim Riggleman said that Laynce Nix was a big longshot to make the team out of spring training. He has not only made the Nationals, but he has been one of the best hitters on the team so far this year. Nix has played in 65 games for the Nationals this year and he is 54 for 189 (.286 avg, .851 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 12 homers, 30 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Nix has career highs in the majors of 15 homers and 46 RBIs and he should easily surpass those numbers if he can just stay healthy.

The Nationals have dealt 27-year old righty swinging catcher Miguel Perez to the Pirates for either a player to be named later or cash. Perez played in 2 games in A-ball for the Nationals this year and he was 3 for 7 (.429 avg, .857 OPS) with 1 RBI. Perez has played in 592 games in his 10 years in the minors and he is 549 for 2,033 (.270 avg, .666 OPS) with 231 runs scored, 12 homers, 212 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. Perez has played in 2 games in his major league career (back in 2005 with the Reds) and he was 0 for 3 with a whiff. Perez wasn’t going to be part of the Nationals’ future, so I like the deal from their end.