Gott traded to Giants for cash considerations

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

February 13, 2019, 6:22am

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Trevor Gott already knew he wouldn't be reporting to Nationals spring training this morning with the rest of the club's pitchers. Now he knows he'll be reporting to the other side of the country.

The Nats traded Gott to the Giants for cash considerations today, officially ending the reliever's disappointing stint with the organization five days after he was removed from their 40-man roster.

Gott had been designated for assignment Friday when the Nationals needed to open up a roster spot for the re-signing of starter Jeremy Hellickson. That left the right-hander in limbo. He could have remained in the organization had he cleared waivers, but the Giants swooped in and made the trade offer, so now he'll head to Scottsdale, Ariz., and participate in San Francisco's big league camp.

The Nationals had high hopes for Gott when they acquired him from the Angels in December 2015 for infielder Yunel Escobar. Despite his diminutive frame, he was capable of throwing in the upper 90s, and thus was touted as a potential late-inning bullpen piece under club control for five years.

But Gott never panned out as hoped. In 33 appearances over the last three seasons, he posted a 7.39 ERA and 1.857 WHIP while walking 5.1 batters per nine innings.

Though he made the opening day roster last season, Gott spent the year shuttling back and forth between Washington and Triple-A Syracuse. Tellingly, he wasn't among the club's September call-ups, which proved to be a sign of his diminished standing in the organization.