Nationals activate Austin Voth, designate Javy Guerra for assisgnment

The Nationals are activating right-hander Austin Voth from the COVID-19 injured list, manager Dave Martinez told reporters, including Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. Reliever Javy Guerra has been designated for assignment to open space on the active roster.

Washington has a vacancy on the 40-man roster, but Guerra couldn’t be optioned to the minors. Bumping him from the big league club required exposing him to waivers, and the veteran right-hander hasn’t shown well over six appearances this year. Guerra has been tagged for thirteen runs on twelve hits (including three homers) with three walks and four strikeouts over six innings. He now seems likely to wind up on the free agent market in the coming days. Guerra has enough major league service time to reject an outright assignment if he passes through waivers unclaimed.

Guerra has appeared in the big leagues in each of the past eleven seasons, logging time with the Nats in the last two-plus years. The 35-year-old has bounced around the league after breaking in as the Dodgers’ closer a decade ago and should find interest elsewhere via minor league deals.

Voth has been out of action for a little more than three weeks. He landed on the COVID-19 IL alongside Trea Turner, Daniel Hudson and Alex Avila in late July. Turner and Hudson have since been traded and activated to their new clubs’ rosters, while Avila remains on Washington’s injured list. Voth has worked almost exclusively in relief this season, posting a 4.81 ERA over 43 innings.