--RHP Luis Ayala was traded to the Mets for a player to be named, expected to be INF Anderson Hernandez. Ayala was one of the most reliable setup men in the National League for four seasons but was among the worst relievers in baseball this season, going 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA in 62 appearances. Ayala, who had "Tommy John" surgery in 2006, insists his arm is healthy, and his velocity has remained in the low-to-mid 90s. But he said a series of off-field issues, including a divorce, kept him from maintaining his focus this season. "When you don't have the really focus on your job, you can't do a good job, you know?" the Mexican native said. "It's not like an excuse, but if you don't feel comfortable, something happens to where you can't do your job. I tried to do my best." Hernandez, 25, was hitting just .203 for the Mets' Class AAA affiliate in New Orleans, but will likely join the Nationals' roster Wednesday in Philadelphia and serve as a backup infielder.

--RHP Marco Estrada is expected to be promoted from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) and join the Nationals' bullpen Tuesday in Philadelphia. Estrada, 25, is 3-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 12 starts at Columbus, but will make his big-league debut as a reliever.

--C Jesus Flores was out of the lineup Sunday with a strained right calf. Flores hurt himself sliding into the plate during Saturday night's loss to the Rockies. X-rays came back negative, and Flores' status is day-to-day. C Wil Nieves will start in his place until he returns.

--3B Ryan Zimmerman was given a rare day off Sunday, though the Nationals' star third baseman did wind up appearing against the Rockies. Zimmerman, who missed 48 games with a left shoulder injury earlier this season, wasn't in manager Manny Acta's lineup for the series finale against Colorado. But with the Nationals trailing 3-2 in the sixth with two men on, Acta used Zimmerman to pinch-hit. He flied out to left, and Washington failed to score in the inning.

--OF Lastings Milledge continues to perform well for the Nationals even when his team is struggling. Milledge has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games, going 26-for-71 (.366) with five homers, 11 RBIs and nine extra-base hits. His season average is up to .261.

BY THE NUMBERS
3 -- Remaining Nationals who played in the majors for the Montreal Expos (Chad Cordero, Nick Johnson, Shawn Hill).

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We tried to value the player properly, and we tried to negotiate a contract to sign the player. But that being said, we're not going to be bullied into just giving a number just because someone says, 'You've got to pay X.'" -- GM Jim Bowden, on failed negotiations with first-round draft pick Aaron Crow, a RHP out of the University of Missouri.

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