Nationals claim right-hander Eric Fornataro from Cardinals

This is what passes for a busy news day in NatsTown for early November...

After the Washington Nationals announced the hiring of Vice President and Assistant GM Bob Miller this morning, a move that was predicted a few weeks back after now-former Nats' Asst. GM Bryan Minniti left the organization and eventually joined the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Nats, this afternoon, announced that they had claimed 26-year-old right-hander Eric Fornataro off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals:

The #Nats have acquired RHP Eric Fornataro on a waiver claim from the #STLCards. Nationals 40-man roster is now at 40.

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) November 3, 2014

Fornataro, who will turn 27 in January, made his MLB debut this past April, after seven seasons in the Cards' organization. St. Louis drafted the righty in the 6th Round of the 2008 Draft out of Miami-Dade College in Miami, Florida.

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Photo © Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports

In eight appearances for the Cardinals this season, Fornataro posted a 4.66 ERA and a 3.13 FIP with a walk and three Ks in 9 ⅔ IP.

As the Nationals noted in their press release on the acquisition, the right-hander has enjoyed success in the minors in the two seasons (2012-2014) in which he worked exclusively out of the bullpen, posting a 2.39 ERA and a 3.19 FIP in 67 ⅔ at Double-A Springfield in 2012 and a 2.57 ERA and a 4.27 FIP in 56 IP at Triple-A Memphis in 2014, where he earned 15 saves in 44 games.

In 577 minor league innings pitched, Fornataro allowed just 32 HRs (0.50 HR/9).

The waiver claim leaves the Nationals with 40 players on their 40-Man roster and some decisions to make in the next few weeks since they have to add a number of minor leaguers to the 40-Man roster or risk losing them in this year's Rule 5 Draft.