Nationals get Matt Thornton from Yankees
Matt Thornton pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on Friday, June 20, 2014 in the Bronx Borough of New York City. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Nationals have claimed Matt Thornton off waivers, and the Yankees have sent the lefthanded reliever to Washington, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
Thornton had a 2.55 ERA in 46 games this season and held lefthanded hitters to a .250 average in 56 at-bats. Righthanders hit .243 against him in 37 at-bats.
Thornton, 37, was in the first year of a two-year, $7-million deal. He's owed $3.5 million in 2015.
In a corresponding move, the Yankees signed lefty Rich Hill to a major-league deal and added him to the 25-man roster.
The Yankees' most advanced lefthanded reliever in the minor league system is 24-year-old Tyler Webb, who has gone from Single-A Tampa to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. In 8.1 innings with Scranton/Wilkes/Barre, Webb has struck out 13 and walked three. In 57.1 total innings this season he has 81 strikeouts and 18 walks.
Jacob Lindgren, the Yankees' first selection (second round) of the 2014 draft, has yet to pitch above Single-A Tampa, but the 21-year-old out of Mississippi State has navigated the minors easily and could be an option in September, or before. In 13.1 innings this season he has an 0.68 ERA and 30 strikeouts, allowing six hits and four walks.
