The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of veteran OF/1B/PH Matt Stairs to a minor league contract. Stairs, 42, is Major League Baseball's all-time leader in pinch-hit home runs. The 18-year veteran is a career .264/.357/.481 hitter with 265 home runs with a league-record tying 12 different clubs. He was signed as an amatuer free agent in 1989 by Montreal and made his MLB debut in 1992 with the Expos. Stairs played in 78 games with the San Diego Padres last season, making three appearances at first base, 13 in left field and one in right field. He was primarily used as a left-handed pinch-hitter, and compiled a .232/.306/.475 slash line with six homers and 16 RBIs in 111 plate appearances. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said several times this off-season he wanted to upgrade the Nats bench with players that knew and accepted their roles, and this acquisition fills that need perfectly.