WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals made a deal with the Los Angeles Angels Thursday, sending infielder Yunel Escobar west for right-handed pitchers Trevor Gott and Michael Brady. The clubs have confirmed the deal Thursday evening.
Escobar, originally acquired from the Oakland Athletics for Tyler Clippard last offseason, batted .314 with a .375 on-base percentage, hitting nine home runs and 25 doubles over 139 games in Washington last season. He played primarily third base after serving as a shortstop for the majority of his career before 2015.
Gott, 23, went 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 48 appearances as a rookie last year. He struck out just 27 with 16 walks in 47.2 innings pitched, but had much better minor league numbers, averaging 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched over the past three seasons. He was originally a sixth-round pick out of Kentucky by the San Diego Padres, and ended up in Anaheim as part of the Huston Street trade.
Brady will be 28 by opening day and has not cracked the majors after six minor league seasons, but has put up solid numbers throughout his career. In 251 career appearances, he sports a 3.08 ERA and 401 strikeouts to just 66 walks in 385.1 innings pitched, good for better than a 6/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Brady was 24th-round selection of the Marlins back in 2009.
