NewsGuzman clears waivers, staying with Nats
Red Sox may have put in claim for veteran shortstop
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
08/10/09 3:40 PM ET
WASHINGTON -- Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman has cleared waivers and will not be traded to the Red Sox, according to a baseball source.According to The Boston Globe on Sunday, the Red Sox may have put in the claim for Guzman's services. Boston is in need of a shortstop, as Jed Lowrie went on the disabled list Saturday with a left wrist injury.
But the source said the Nationals have no intentions of trading Guzman. In fact, Washington was upset that the story on Guzman even came out.
Acting general manager Mike Rizzo was not available for comment.
On Monday, Guzman boarded a plane to Atlanta with the team for a two-games series against the Braves beginning Tuesday night.
Guzman is one of the hottest hitters on the Nationals. He is on a 15-game hitting streak, going 29-for-63 (.547) with two home runs and 16 RBIs. For the season, Guzman is hitting .317 with five home runs and 40 RBIs.
Early in the season, the Nationals were unhappy with Guzman's defense, claiming that he had problems going to his left. But interim manager Jim Riggleman considers Guzman the team's most improved player on defense since the All-Star break.
"I think Guzman has played real well the last month," Riggleman said. "Defensively, I don't remember an error he has made."
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
