AP  -

WASHINGTON -- Outfielder Willy Taveras has agreed to a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.

If added to the 40-man roster, Taveras would receive a contract for the $400,000 major league minimum, with Oakland responsible for the remainder of his $4 million salary.

The Athletics acquired Taveras on Feb. 1 from Cincinnati with infielder Adam Rosales for infielder Aaron Miles and a player to be named, then immediately designated Taveras for assignment. He was released Feb. 9.

Taveras hit .240 with one homer and 15 RBIs for Cincinnati last season and has a .276 average with eight homers, 124 RBIs and 194 steals in five major league seasons. He led the major leagues with 68 steals for Colorado two years ago.

So Beane completes his swing through Cincy by passing the buck (or about 3.6M of them) onto the Nationals.  Not a terrible pick up for the Nationals - they're a little thin in the OF and maybe they get lucky as Taveras figures out how to connect bat to ball again.  Essentially it's the last hurdle the front office was looking to clear before skipping down to AZ on a hope and a prayer.

We can start writing our score-sheets with pen as the A's appear set to make their way to P&C Day.  For those of us who won't be making it down to Scottsdale, we won't be reading up on the scouting reports but rather the team's medical blog.  If we can break camp with a healthy crew, we're in for a dark-horse championship season.  Defense wins championships - wrong sport but whatever - it's the company line for this season.  Plus, being back in the bottom 5 for payroll has me feeling all 2001-y.  A patchwork team with some stellar (and a few glass) arms in the rotation.  A rack of top shelf relievers that gets me so giddy, I might bring back the Club Foot Stomp.  The sun is coming people - but the snow is still the last party guest to leave here in D.C.

Now if i can only figure out which A's Jersery to get w/ the MLB.com 20% discount and my Tax Refund....