Nationals sign former Marlin Greg Dobbs
The Washington Nationals announced this morning that they had signed veteran Greg Dobbs to a minor league contract. The move is most likely the result of yet another Nationals opening day starter, Adam LaRoche, going on the disable list. LaRoche is fifth opening day starter to land on the DL for the Nationals in this young season.
Greg Dobbs is a lifetime pinch hitter along with being able to play both first base and third base. With only one hit on the season in 13 at bats for the Miami Marlins they released him earlier in the week. The 35 year old is known as one of the best pinch hitters in baseball, which is shown in his last three years where he has a batting average of .267 and 23 RBIs in 116 at bats coming off the bench.
Greg Dobbs has been in the NL East for the last 7 seasons in which he had played for the Philadelphia Phillies as well as the Miami Marlins. With playing in the same division as the Nationals he has compiled a great amount of at bats in Nationals Park and in the last three season he has hit .359 in 64 at bats in the Nationals home park.
Dobbs has a clause in his contract that he can opt out in early June if he isn’t on the Nationals major league roster. While it is unknown how long Greg Dobbs will stay in the minors, it is known that he is a great pinch hitter off the bench and can contribute in the starting lineup with all the injuries that have piled up on the Nationals since the season started.
