A relatively old story (11:25 am EST), but first I noticed it was when I looked at their roster. Luis Matos came from the same hometown as Felipe Lopez, I assume there is not a connection with the pickup and that fact.

The O's released Matos on July 7, 2006, and the Nationals signed the free agent today. Matos played seven seasons with the O's (including 55 games this season), and spent five of them on the DL at some point in those seasons (Matos was on the DL for April of 2006). He is a career .256 hitter in 494 games (1590 AB), with 82 doubles, 9 triples, 30 home-runs, 140 RBI, 597 TB, 72 SB 24 CS .313 OBP and .375 SLG. Matos best season came in 2003 when he played in 109 games and ended up with a batting average of .303 with a .353 OBP and .458 SLG. he hit 23 doubles, 3 triples, 13 home-runs and 45 RBI, while also stealing 15 stolen bases. Matos has appeared in 55 games this season, and has hit a very low .207. In his last ten games, Matos hit .227 with the O's. Matos wore #32 with the O's, but as we all know, Chad Cordero wears #32 on the Nationals.

To make room for the addition, Marlon Byrd has been sent down.

Source: Nationals.com