Washington, DC (Best E Casino) - The Washington Nationals acquired shortstop Alberto Gonzalez from the New York Yankees on Thursday in exchange for minor- league pitcher Jhonny Nunez.

Gonzalez is expected to report to the Nats on Friday and be in uniform for the team's series opener against Cincinnati.

The 25-year-old Gonzalez is an excellent defensive shortstop, who played in 28 games during a pair of stints with the Yankees this season but was just 9- for-52 at the plate.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez batted .250 with four home runs and 23 RBI in 47 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2008.

Nunez, 22, appeared in 26 games (17 starts) combined with Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg this season, going just 2-8 with a 4.85 ERA.