Washington Nationals reinstate Ryan Zimmerman from IL; option Michael A. Taylor to Double-A Harrisburg

Washington Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez told reporters earlier this week that the team hadn’t made a decision on how they would make room on the roster for Ryan Zimmerman’s return from the Injured List.

“We haven’t decided what kind of moves we’re going to make,” Martinez said, though the choices they had seemed to come down to keeping Michael A. Taylor or Gerardo Parra as the fourth outfielder or whether to keep eight relievers in the bullpen or go back to seven.

Earlier this afternoon, MASN’s Mark Zuckerman, citing “multiple sources familiar with the transaction,” wrote that Taylor was optioned to Double-A Harrisburg after last night’s game in a move that comes after the 28-year-old outfielder has been used sparingly this season.

Taylor has played in just 43 of the Nationals’ 80 games this season, with a .211/.277./276 line, five doubles, seven walks, and 32 Ks in 76 PAs.

Zimmerman, who went on the Injured List at the end of April with a plantar fasciitis in his right foot, played five games at Double-A before he was called back up to join the Nationals in Detroit for the start of a three-game set with the Tigers.

With Zimmerman on the IL, Matt Adams, Howie Kendrick and Parra have seen time at first base, and Martinez said this week that he would work Zimmerman back in slowly while he made sure to keep the other first base options in the lineup so he can keep them all sharp.

“He’s not going to come here and play every day nine innings,” Martinez said, as quoted by MASN’s Zuckerman earlier this week.

“And he understands that Howie and Matt are both doing well, so they’re going to get some playing time as well.”

With the DH available this weekend in the Interleague matchup with the Tigers, it will be a lot easier to get everyone at bats, but there will be some tough decisions ahead...