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Washington Nationals Designate RHP Shairon Martis for Assignment

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ed. 4:18 pm. Todd Coffey signed a one-year Major League contract, per team release. We should have the next name off the 40-man soon. Today, the Washington Nationals designated RHP Shairon Martis for assignment. The move accompanies the approval by Major League Baseball of Jerry Hairston's 2011 contract. The Nats still have to make two more player moves to get LHP Tom Gorzelanny and RHP Todd Coffey on the 40-man roster, if indeed Coffey was signed to a big league contract. Coffey is not listed on the Nationals 40-man roster on their team website as of today, but Gorzelanny is. Martis, 24 in March, went 8-7 with a 4.09 ERA, 1.421 WHIP, 5.9 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 27 games -- all starts -- for Triple-A Syracuse last season. The Curacao native compiled a 6-6 record with a 5.33 ERA in 19 starts for the Nationals in 2008 and 2009. He was acquired by the Nats in a 2006 trade for relief pitcher Mike Stanton. Since he was DFA'd, the Nats have ten days to place Martis on waivers, trade him, or release him outright. If the Nats place Martis on waivers and he clears, he could return to the organization on a minor league contract.