on november 4, 2005, the nationals traded vinny castilla to the san diego padres for brian lawrence. on december 8, 2005, they traded brad wilkerson, terrmel sledge, and minor-leaguer armando galarraga to the texas rangers for alfonso soriano. on december 24, 2005, they signed mike stanton – who they had traded to the boston red sox late the previous season – as a free agent. on february 11, 2006, the nationals sold jamey carroll to the colorado rockies for $300,000, and on march 31, 2006, they sold jim crowell to the philadelphia phillies.