Nats to drop Kelley over outburst
Shawn Kelley’s outburst on the mound got him booted from the Nationals.
Washington designated Kelley for assignment Wednesday, a day after he threw his glove to the ground and glared into the dugout while working the ninth inning of a 25-4 blowout of the Mets.
Kelley entered the game with Washington leading 25-1. He appeared agitated and was working quickly, and he had already allowed a run when the plate umpire warned him to slow down. After the warning, Kelley gave up a two-run homer to Austin Jackson, prompting the outburst.
“I thought (the way) he acted, portrayed on the field last night, was disrespectful to the name on the front of the jersey, the organization, specifically (manager) Davey Martinez,” Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said. “You’re either in or you’re in the way.
“I thought he was in the way. That’s something you don’t come back from. It was a disrespectful act . ... I thought it warranted him leaving the team. I couldn’t see how he would face the rest of the teammates and the coaching staff and the manager after such a selfish act in a 25-1 game.”
Kelley apologized for his actions afterward, saying he simply wanted the game to end.
“I was just trying to get through the inning and get the game over with,” Kelley said. “I thought everybody had seen enough baseball for one evening.”
The 34-year-old signed as a free agent with Washington in December 2015 and appeared in 135 games with the team. He had a 3.34 ERA in 35 appearances this season. He has pitched in 424 games, all in relief, over 10 seasons with four teams, and has a 3.73 career ERA.
Briefly: Tampa Bay shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who had lost his starting role to rookie Willy Adames, was designated for assignment to open a roster spot for outfielder Tommy Pham, who was traded to the Rays from St. Louis . ... Houston shortstop Carlos Correa will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Corpus Christi after missing more than a month with a back injury . ... Mets outfielder Yoenis Céspedes is set to have surgery on his heel Thursday, the first of two procedures that likely will sideline him from eight to 10 months. Also, the Mets said left-hander Steven Matz will be evaluated by doctors after experiencing forearm discomfort as he failed to get out of the first inning in Tuesday night’s 25-4 loss to Washington. ... The Dodgers are expected to activate infielder Justin Turner on Thursday. He has been sidelined by a groin strain.