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According to a report on Twitter by MASNSports.com’s Mark Zuckerman this afternoon, the Washington Nationals have placed veteran first baseman/outfielder Clint Robinson on waivers, seemingly ending the battle for the job of backing up Ryan Zimmerman at first base in the nation’s capital this season.
Robinson, 32, broke through in the majors with the Nationals in 2015, filling in for the injured Zimmerman and coming off the bench for Washington, hitting 15 doubles and 10 home runs in 126 games and 352 plate appearances over which he put up an impressive .272/.358/.424 line, finishing his first extended major league run at 0.4 fWAR.
Robinson struggled in a more limited role in 2016, however, hitting four doubles and five home runs over 104 games and 224 PAs, with a .235/.305/.332 line on the year in what ended up being a -1.2 fWAR campaign.
Dusty Baker talked often last season about his fondness for Robinson, as he did after Zimmerman was placed on the DL in July.
"Clint, he's done a great job for us," Baker said after a 3-1 win, in which Robinson hit a two-run homer off Noah Syndergaard.
“He works hard. This guy works hard and it took him a long time to get here and he's planning on staying here.
"The old saying is, 'It's harder to stay here than it is to get here,' and it was certainly hard for him to get here.”
Before his big season with the Nationals in 2015, Robinson had a total of 13 major league games on his resume.
The Nationals will apparently go with Adam Lind as the primary backup to Zimmerman at first base.
Lind, 33, signed a 1-year/$1.5M deal with the Nationals in mid-February, coming off a “down year” in Seattle which saw him post a .239/.286/.431 line with 17 doubles and 20 HRs in 126 games and 430 PAs for the Mariners, finishing the year at -0.6 fWAR, down from a .277/.360/.460, 32 doubles, 20 HR, 2.3 fWAR season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015.
More info when it is available...
Robinson move guarantees roster spot for Lind and leaves last spot on bench for either Taylor or Difo.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 28, 2017
Robinson said he was placed on waivers. Teams have 72 hours to claim him. If not, can decide whether or not to accept trip to Syracuse.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 28, 2017