Jesus Flores discomforted by Washington Nationals’ deal to acquire Kurt Suzuki - MLB News
The catcher Jesus Flores appears to be unhappy with the latest trade by the Washington Nationals, which involves the acquisition of Kurt Suzuki by the club in exchange for a Minor league catcher David Freitas. He expresses his complete shock over the announcement
and said that he was unaware of it.
Flores has been carrying out the catching responsibilities for the Nationals ever since Wilson Ramos was injured. While not as good as Ramos was, he certainly has not disappointed Washington both offensively and defensively.
Currently, Flores is hitting .221 with three home-runs and 18 RBIs, which from a catcher who was brought in as a makeshift measure by the club are not bad numbers.
However, he is dismayed by the way the Nationals have obtained Kurt Suzuki and have announced him as the catcher who will be taking his position in the season from now onward.
The fact Suzuki boasts reasonable amount of experience has motivated the management to give him the starting role as opposed to continuing with Flores.
What apparently has disheartened Flores is the fact that he was kept in darkness all though the trade process. Therefore, when he heard the news he was heartbroken. For a player, who is assured of playing ahead in the season, learning all of a sudden that
he has been scratched from the role is tough to face.
For the same reason, he was disbelieving the news when he was informed by the reporters that the deal has been agreed.
“Not at all. I don’t even want to talk about it. I’m just in shock. I didn’t know we had a new catcher,” Flores said.
Meanwhile, Suzuki will have a point to prove now. The confidence that the management has put in him will be like a challenge thrust into his hand. Catching throws of the starters like Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann is not going to be easy.
It will be interesting to see how he lives up to the challenge and makes sure the Nationals continue to perform well in the season.
Meanwhile, Flores will be absorbing the bitter reality and will be trying to adjust to it quickly.
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