Report: Red Sox in the Hunt for Nationals’ Guzman

Boston's five-year search for a shortstop is still raging on. Nick Green is alright, but is he an everyday player? Probably not. The situation is even more dire now that Jed Lowrie is back on the disabled list.

Enter Cristian Guzman.

Major League sources tell Boston.com that the Red Sox have put a claim on the Nationals shortstop. It has not been confirmed whether or not the Sox have been awarded the claim, but if they are, they will have 48 hours to form a deal with Washington.

Claims work like this: As a player passes through waivers, any team has the right to claim him, but the team that ultimately gets the player is the one with the worst record. In addition, National League teams get first dibs on Guzman before American League teams have the chance to claim him.

The 31-year-old has spent the last four seasons of his 10-year career with the Nationals. In 2009, he's hitting .315 with five homers and 39 RBIs, striking out 55 times and walking just 11 times.

Guzman is currently in the first year of a two-year, $16 million deal.