Nationals Claim Lefty Slaten Off Waivers
November 5, 2009CSNwashington.comThursday the Washington Nationals claimed left-handed reliever Doug Slaten off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 126 career big league appearances with Arizona, the 6-foot-5 Slaten is 3-5 with 13 holds and a 3.68 ERA . Over his four-year career (2006-09), Slaten has suffered just one blown save, stranded 77 percent of inherited baserunners (60 of 78) and limited left-handed batters to a .322 on-base mark while yielding just four home runs.
Slaten produced his best season in 2007 when he posted seven holds en route to a 2.72 ERA in 61 appearances as the Diamondbacks claimed the NL West flag.
The 29 year-old Slaten pitched in 11 games for Arizona in 2009, but spent the majority of the season with Reno of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, going 3-2 with nine saves and a 3.09 ERA in 39 appearances. While in the PCL, Slaten registered a healthy 2.7/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and was touched for just three home runs in 43.2 innings.
Slaten was Arizona’s 17th-round selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft out of Pierce College in Los Angeles.