Nationals re-signed OF Jason Michaels to a minor league contract.

Michaels will also serve as a hitting coach for the Nats' minor leaguers. He batted just .202/.265/.288 in 113 plate appearances last season at Triple-A Syracuse.

Nationals signed OF Jason Michaels to a minor league contract.

Michaels will open the 2012 regular season with Triple-A Syracuse. He failed to win a spot on the Nationals' Opening Day roster this spring after going 9-for-41 (.220).

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, the Nationals are close to re-signing Jason Michaels.

Michaels was released on Tuesday after exercising the opt-out clause in his contract. He would likely start the season with Triple-A Syracuse.

The Nationals are hoping to re-sign Jason Michaels.

Michaels was released Thursday after exercising the opt-out clause in his contract, but evidently the Nats haven't shut the door on him returning under a new deal. The veteran batted just .220 (9-for-41) this spring.

Nationals released OF Jason Michaels.

Michaels was reassigned to minor league camp earlier Thursday, then used the opt-out clause in his contract. The 35-year-old will try to latch on with another club.

Nationals reassigned OF Jason Michaels to minor league camp.

Michaels indicated as much to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, but the move is now official. The 35-year-old outfielder has an opt-out clause in his minor league contract, but is willing to open the season with Triple-A Syracuse.

Jason Michaels told Bill Ladson of MLB.com that he won't make the Nationals' Opening Day roster.

Michaels, a non-roster invitee, is batting just .220 (9-for-41) with one home run and seven RBI this spring. The 35-year-old outfielder has expressed a willingness to open the season with Triple-A Syracuse.

Nationals signed OF Jason Michaels to a minor league contract.

The deal presumably includes an invite to spring training. Michaels, 35, batted just .199/.256/.295 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 169 plate appearances with the Astros in 2011 and underwent season-ending surgery on his left hand in September. He'll try to win a spot as a reserve outfielder.

Jason Michaels (hand) will undergo season-ending surgery on his left hand Wednesday.

Michaels broke his left hand while making a diving catch during Tuesday's win over the Phillies. The impending free agent batted just .199/.256/.295 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 169 plate appearances this season.

Jason Michaels singled in Humberto Quintero in the bottom of the 11th to give the Astros a 3-2 win over the Nationals on Wednesday.

It looked like Brad Mills decision not to pinch-run for Quintero might haunt the Astros after Quintero failed to score from second on a groundball single into center with one out in the 11th. The backup catcher was still on the bench, and anyone with close to average speed would have scored on the play. Michaels, though, came through with a game-winning single immediately afterwards. It gave the Astros back-to-back victories for the first time since June 17-18.

Jason Michaels doubled in a run and plated two more with a home run in Thursday's win over the Rangers.

Michaels took advantage of a rare start by driving in three of the Astros' seven runs, giving him a total of eight on the year. The 35-year-old outfielder is batting .222 this season in his bench role with the 'Stros.

Jason Michaels (shoulder) could be activated from the disabled list Friday.

Michaels hit .313 in four rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and the shoulder appears to be feeling fine. He'll give the 'Stros some depth off the bench.

Jason Michaels (shoulder) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Michaels swung a bat for the first time Wednesday and will take batting practice over the next two days. He was 2-for-18 (.111) before being placed on the disabled list last week.

Astros placed OF Jason Michaels on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 25, with a subluxation of his left shoulder.

Michaels suffered the injury diving for a fly ball during Sunday's game against the Brewers. There's no current timetable for his return. The 25-year-old outfielder is batting .111 over his first 18 at-bats this season.

Jason Michaels went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles for the Astros on Sunday.

With a .415 average and two homers in 41 at-bats, Michaels has been the Astros' best hitter this spring. The team could find additional playing time for him early on by shifting Carlos Lee to first base against left-handers. Brett Wallace deserves a long look, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to use him primarily against righties initially.

Jason Michaels (back) went 2-for-2 in his return to the Astros' spring lineup Thursday.

Michaels was scratched on both Tuesday and Wednesday due to a minor back injury that crept up on him during an early-week batting practice session. He only served as the Astros' designated hitter Thursday but should return to the outfield this weekend.

Jason Michaels (back) is out of the lineup again Wednesday.

Michaels is still being bothered by back spasms, which caused him to be scratched Tuesday. He plans to swing a bat today in hopes of returning to the lineup Thursday, but the Astros aren't going to push him if he clearly isn't ready.

Jason Michaels was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to back stiffness.

Michaels began feeling the discomfort while taking morning batting practice. He doesn't think it will be a big issue. "It's a spasm, just a little stiff," said the outfielder. "I don't think it's serious, but we decided to play it safe."

The Astros picked up their $900 thousand club option on outfielder Jason Michaels.

Michaels is not really good - he doesn't really take a walk and most years his power is suspect - but he's also not terrible, and that contract is reasonable. He did show his best power of his career this year, and in 2011, he may get more than the 202 plate appearances he had this year, if only because Carlos Lee will be another year older. Otherwise, there's not much to report here.

Jason Michaels hit a pinch-hit grand slam to lead the Astros to a 5-2 win over the Brewers on Sunday.

The Astros were down 2-0 entering the seventh, but Hunter Pence knocked starter Randy Wolf out of the game with a liner off his wrist. Kameron Loe entered and promptly walked both batters he faced, then was replaced by rookie Zack Braddock. Michaels came in for Brett Wallace to avoid a lefty-lefty matchup and then took Braddock deep to the first row of the Crawford boxes in left field. Michaels has taken well to a return to a bench role with seven homers in 110 at-bats this season.