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Nationals Release Catcher Chris Snyder

The Washington Nationals announced tonight that they released 33-year-old, 10-year veteran Chris Snyder tonight, who became expendable after the Nats traded for 29-year-old Jose Lobaton earlier this winter. Snyder could have opted out of his deal this week.

By Patrick Reddington

When the Washington Nationals signed Chris Snyder to a minor league deal on December 21, 2013, he was brought in as a veteran alternative to relatively inexperienced catchers Jhonatan Solano and Sandy Leon who were then the top candidates to win the job as the backup to Wilson Ramos.

Two months later, however, the Nats acquired catcher Jose Lobaton from the Tampa Bay Rays, picking up a backstop who could play full time if Ramos once again dealt with injuries this season.

The Nationals announced tonight that they released Snyder, the 33-year-old catcher whose contract allowed him to opt out of the deal with Washington this coming Thursday:

In 13 games this spring, Snyder was 5 for 17 (.294 AVG) with a double, a home run, three walks and two Ks. It's the second year in a row that the 10-year veteran signed with the Nationals only to be released. Last spring, Snyder went on to sign a deal with the LA Angels, who eventually dealt him to the Baltimore Orioles, for whom he ended up playing nine major league games.

In 2,459 plate appearances in his career after the Arizona Diamondbacks took him in the 2nd Round of the 2002 Draft, Snyder has a combined .224/.328/.382 line with 98 doubles and 17 HRs over 715 games played for the D-Backs, Pirates, Astros and O's.

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