Nationals Designate Willy Taveras For Assignment

The Nationals designated outfielder Willy Taveras for assignment, reports Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider.  The move clears a spot for Mike Morse, who is returning from a calf injury. Taveras, 28, logged only 36 plate appearances with the Nationals this year.  He signed a minor league deal in February after being released by the Athletics.  The A's remain on the hook for most of Taveras' $4MM salary.  The speedster's last good season was a 97-game stint in '07 with the Rockies. Zuckerman also notes that reliever Brian Bruney "appears to be on thin ice at this point."  The 28-year-old righty was acquired to take on a late-inning role, but his fastball's been down almost two miles per hour and his control has been brutal.