Wed, May 2, 2007 at 11:00pm

A'S, NATS SWAP OUTFIELDERS

The Oakland Athletics acquired outfielder Chris Snelling from the Washington Nationals for outfielder Ryan Langerhans.

What does it give the Oakland Athletics
Having lost DH Mike Piazza to injury earlier in the day, not to mention the countless injuries to outfielders, Snelling comes in as a promising left-handed-hitting outfielder who can pick up some slack. Just 25, he was getting his first taste of semi-regular duty in D.C. and was struggling, but he has the potential to be exactly the kind of player the A's love: a guy who gets on base a ton, both through his consistent line-drive swing and through patience at the plate.

What does it give the Washington Nationals
Throughout the young season, the Nats have been looking for someone to make a real impact in the outfield. After just a couple of days on the A's roster, Langerhans heads to D.C. to essentially fill the same role Snelling had -- platooning in left field. If he unlocks some of his power, he could even grow into a more regular role.

Fantasy impact

Player focus

Washington Nationals

Ryan Langerhans OF

Oakland Athletics

Chris Snelling OF