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Nationals Reportedly Trade Kurt Suzuki Back To Oakland A's

According to reports by the Washington Times' Amanda Comak and Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Nationals have traded Kurt Suzuki back to the Oakland A's over a year after acquiring the catcher from the Athletics.

By Patrick Reddington
USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals acquired Kurt Suzuki from the Oakland A's in an August 3, 2012 trade that sent then-23-year-old backstop prospect David Freitas to the Athletics. Suzuki had a .218/.250/.286 line with 15 doubles and one home run before the Nats acquired the then-28-year-old receiver. In the first month after the trade, his offensive struggles continued, but down the stretch the Wailuku, Hawaii-born, Cal State Fullerton-educated catcher put up a .301/.355/.482 line with three doubles and four home runs in 26 games and 93 plate appearances as he helped the Nationals to the NL East title.

"We do see Ramos as the future behind the plate for us," Mike Rizzo said, "Zuk (Suzuki) is a marvelous handler of the pitching staff." - Mike Rizzo on MLB Network Radio this Spring

Suzuki was acquired in part because the Nationals were struggling with Wilson Ramos sidelined after tearing the ACL and meniscus in his right knee. Ramos was able to recover from the injury in time for Opening Day 2013, however, only to injure his hamstring twice early this season, pressing Suzuki into full-time once action again. Since Ramos returned from the DL though, the 26-year-old catcher has been tearing it up offensively with a .319/.336/.517 line, five doubles and six home runs in 31 game and 119 plate appearances before this afternoon's game in Chicago. Suzuki was having a hard time getting in the lineup with Ramos hitting like he was and as the Washington Post's Thomas Boswell noted this week, handling the Nats' pitching staff well.

Suzuki had a .222/.283/.310 line on the year, with 11 doubles, a triple and three home runs in 79 games and 281 plare appearances after he went 0 for 1 in one at bat tonight after taking over for Wilson Ramos in the top of the tenth inning. At some point after the game, the Nationals reportedly traded Suzuki back to the A's:

The Nationals will have to call a catcher up to take Suzuki's place on the roster. The Washington Times' Ms. Comak notes in her report on the trade that Jhonatan Solano was scratched from tonight's Syracuse Chiefs game.

• Update: CSNWashington.com's Mark Zuckerman talked to a club source who confirmed the deal:

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