WASHINGTON -- The Nationals acquired shortstop Alberto Gonzalez from the Yankees in exchange for Minor League pitcher Jhonny Nunez on Thursday afternoon.

Gonzalez is expected to report to Washington on Friday and be in uniform for the series opener against the Reds. He most likely will get some starts at shortstop, because Cristian Guzman is out with a thumb injury. Guzman is expected to be back in the lineup within three to five days.

Gonzalez, 25, played in 28 games during a pair of stints with the Yankees this season, going 9-for-52 with four runs scored.

"He's a Major League shortstop -- .250, .260 hitter. He can really play shortstop with a gun," general manager Jim Bowden said. "It's hard to get middle infielders who can do that. We now feel with Emilio Bonifacio, Cristian Guzman, who is signed for two years, Ian Desmond and Esmailyn Gonzalez, we have really stabilized our middle infield for the short term as well as the long term."

Nunez, who was acquired from the Dodgers in the Marlon Anderson trade, was a combined 2-8 with a 4.45 ERA for Class A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg this season.

Gonzalez was acquired by the Yankees as part of the January 2007 five-player trade that sent Randy Johnson to Arizona.