Winker could miss out on a big-league roster spot with the Nationals after the team added Eddie Rosario last week, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old Winker looked like a good bet to break camp with the Nats when he signed an NRI deal in February, provided that he was healthy and could re-discover his old form at the plate. He's held up his end up that bargain so far, batting .350 (7-for-20) through nine spring games with two doubles and a 5:4 BB:K, but the Rosario signing likely bumps Joey Gallo from left field to first base and Joey Meneses from 1B to DH, seeming to leave little room for a defensively limited player like Winker.

Winker says his struggles last season were due to a prolonged recovery from multiple surgeries in the prior offseason, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old underwent knee surgery in October 2022 and followed it up with disc replacement surgery in his neck, so it's perhaps not surprising in retrospect that he never seemed comfortable at the plate in 2023. "I think the recovery was a little bit harder than I thought it was going to be," Winker said Friday. "It took me a little bit longer than I thought, but I think I'm in a really good spot now. For me, that's all that matters. Obviously, I learned a lot going through those, and I'm happy I did." Winker signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals last week as he looks to make a comeback, and he posted a .305/.394/.556 slash line in 110 games for the Reds as recently as 2021. If he is 100 percent healthy again, he could quickly move into a regular role as the primary DH on a Washington roster in dire need of offense.

Winker signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Winker has been in a tailspin the last two seasons, slashing just .214/.337/.318 between the Mariners and Brewers while battling multiple injuries. The Nationals will hope the player who had an .888 OPS from 2017-21 can reemerge. Winker should be in the mix at designated hitter and left field against right-handed pitching.

Winker (quad/back) is on the Brewers' roster for their NL Wild Card Series matchup versus the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Winker missed the final two months of the regular season due to back and quad injuries, but he has suddenly reemerged -- likely as a pinch-hitting option against righties -- for this best-of-three series against Arizona. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter owns a career .853 OPS versus right-handed pitching.

Winker (quadricep/back) is scheduled to resume his rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Winker suffered a quad injury while playing in a game for Nashville earlier this month, but it has proven to be a minor setback and he could return to the Brewers as early as this weekend. The 30-year-old originally landed on the 10-day injured list July 26 with back spasms.

Winker (back) hurt his right quad during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville and he has been moved back to the 10-day injured list from his rehab assignment, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Winker hit .333 with a .480 OBP and zero home runs in 39 at-bats during his rehab assignment. It's unclear how serious this latest quad injury is, but Winker, who had been rehabbing back spasms, should be considered out indefinitely.

Winker (back) shifted his rehab assignment Tuesday to Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Winker is now just one step away from returning to the Brewers' active major-league roster after going 5-for-13 in four games with High-A Wisconsin. He's been sidelined since late July due to back spasms.

Winker (back) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin next week, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Winker has been on the shelf since late July due to back spasms. While it sounds like he should be able to return to the Brewers before long, he might not have much of a role with the big club at this point amidst another injury-shortened, disappointing season.

Milwaukee placed Winker on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with back spasms.

EDGE Analysis

Winker will be unavailable for at least nine more days as he tends to a troublesome back. Abraham Toro was recalled from Triple-A Nashville and will replace Winker on the 26-man active roster. Before being deactivated, Winker appeared to have lost hold of his role as a strong-side platoon man at designated hitter. He was on the bench for three of Milwaukee's last five matchups with right-handed starting pitchers.

Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Winker has now sat out three times in the last five games, with all three of those absences coming against right-handed pitching. The 30-year-old has been a strict platoon player all season, but his underwhelming .557 OPS in 183 plate appearances versus righties looks as though it's beginning to cost him playing time. Since Winker offers little defensive value as a corner outfielder, he could wind up being a roster casualty if he doesn't show dramatic improvement with his hitting. Winker is on an $8.25 million salary for 2023 but is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.