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Veteran bench bat Greg Dobbs signed a 1-year/$1.7M extension with the Miami Marlins last September, a deal that was somewhat controversial since, as Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter Juan C. Rodriguez reported at the time that, "Owner Jeffrey Loria, [a] source said, negotiated the pact unbeknownst to his top baseball officials."
Through 15 games this season, the 35-year-old, 11-year veteran was 1 for 13 before the Marlins designated him for assignment last week to make room on the roster for returning infielder Ed Lucas. Miami ended up releasing Dobbs.
In 938 games in his career, Dobbs has a .262/.307/.388 line with 105 doubles, nine triples and 46 HRs in 2,242 plate appearances.
The #Nats have agreed to terms with 1B/OF Greg Dobbs on a Minor League deal.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 12, 2014
The Nationals have reportedly pursued Dobbs before with sources telling MLB.com's Bill Ladson as far back as 2011 that the Nats were in the running to sign the infielder.
Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore tweeted after this afternoon's signing that Davey Johnson wanted to sign Dobbs before his final season on the Nats' bench began:
Nats sign Greg Dobbs to a minor league deal. Marlins cut him loose last week. Davey really wanted him before 2013.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) May 12, 2014
In 99 games and 248 career plate appearances against the Nationals, Dobbs has posted a .278/.313/.364 line with 11 doubles and two home runs. If he plays for the Nats, they would be the left-handed hitting infielder's fourth major league team after he debuted with the Seattle Mariners and played for the Philaelphia Phillies and Marlins.
In his last three seasons with the Marlins, Dobbs has a combined .257/.304/.343 line with 24 doubles, two triples and seven home runs in 249 games and 622 plate appearances.