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Washington Nationals Grant Catcher Chris Snyder Unconditional Release; Catching Depth Still A Strength

With Wilson Ramos and Kurt Suzuki set to start the season at the major league level and Jhonatan Solano, Sandy Leon and Carlos Maldonado in the system, the Washington Nationals apparently decided they could part ways with veteran backstop Chris Snyder, who was signed as insurance earlier this Spring in case anything went wrong with Ramos' rehab.

By Patrick Reddington
USA TODAY Sports

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal wrote this weekend that now-former Washington Nationals' catcher Chris Snyder, who signed a minor league deal with the Nats in early February, was likely to be traded to one of several teams out there looking for catching options as Spring Training draws to a close. "The scramble for backup catchers is on," the bow-tied FOXSports.com reporter noted, "and the Nationals’ Chris Snyder is almost certain to be moved before Opening Day, sources say." With Wilson Ramos seemingly healthy and on his way to a full recovery, Kurt Suzuki to share time with the 25-year-old Ramos as he works his way back from surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee and Jhonatan Solano, Sandy Leon and Carlos Maldonado giving the defending NL East champs considerable backstop depth, the Nationals reportedly parted ways with Snyder this morning:

An '02 Arizona Diamondbacks' 2nd Round pick, Snyder was 4 for 18 in camp with the Nationals. The 32-year-old, nine-year veteran who's played for the D-Backs, Pirates and Astros has reportedly already found a new home in southern California according to what Snyder told the Washington Post's James Wagner shortly after the Nationals announced his release this morning:

The release of Snyder, combined with the moves the Nationals announced this morning, which sent RHPs Yunesky Maya, Ryan Perry and Erik Davis, infielder Chris Marrero, outfielder Corey Brown and catcher Jhonatan Solano sent to Triple-A Syracuse while RHP Ross Ohlendorf and SS Zach Walters were re-assigned to minor league camp, leaves the Nationals' Spring Training roster at 33 with just two weeks to go before the Nats start their defense of the NL East crown.

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