Nationals reacquire catcher Derek Norris from Padres

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Saturday, December 3, 2016

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals have reacquired catcher Derek Norris from the San Diego Padres for minor league right-hander Pedro Avila.

Norris, a 2007 first-round pick of the Nationals, hit .186 with 14 home runs and 42 RBIs last season for San Diego. The 27-year-old is a career .233 hitter in five major league seasons with the Oakland Athletics and Padres.

Washington sent Norris to Oakland for left-hander Gio Gonzalez in 2011. Now Norris returns to the Nationals, who avoided arbitration with catcher Jose Lobaton on Thursday.

All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos is a free agent who will miss the start of the season after knee surgery.

Avila, 19, went 7-7 with a 3.48 ERA in 20 starts for Class A Hagerstown last season.

The Nationals also did not tender a contract to center fielderBen Revere before Friday's deadline, making him a free agent. He was eligible for arbitration and would've cost Washington over $6 million after hitting .217 last season. The 28-year-old has a career .285 batting average in parts of seven seasons with the Twins, Phillies, Blue Jays and Nationals.