Nationals acquire catcher Yan Gomes

The Washington Nationals acquired All-Star catcher Yan Gomes from the Cleveland Indians on Friday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodriguez, outfielder Daniel Johnson and a player to be named later. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Gomes, 31, is under team control through the 2021 season. He hit .266 with 26 doubles, 16 home runs, 48 RBI, 21 walks and 52 runs scored in 112 games for the Cleveland Indians in 2018. He led American League catchers (min. 400 PA) in slugging percentage (.449), OPS (.757), doubles (26), runs scored (T1st, 52) and batting average (.266), while ranking second in on-base percentage (.313).

A veteran of seven Major League seasons, Gomes earned his first career All-Star Game selection in 2018 after being chosen by the Office of the Commissioner. His 26 doubles in 2018 marked a career-high, while his 16 home runs were his most since he clubbed 21 in 2014. Gomes has recorded double-digit home runs in five of his last six full Major League seasons.

Over the last two seasons, Gomes ranked among American League catchers in doubles (3rd, 41), RBI (4th, 104), home runs (5th, 30) and extra base hits (5th, 71). Behind the plate during that span, Gomes threw out 40 would-be base stealers, good for fourth in Major League Baseball. His 32.8 percent caught-stealing rate across the last two seasons ranked seventh in Major League Baseball.

Gomes has appeared in 11 Postseason games, including the 2016 World Series. In those 11 games, he's hit .273 (6-for-22) with two doubles, three walks and three runs scored.

In 652 Major League games, Gomes has hit .248 with 121 doubles, six triples, 87 home runs, 308 RBI, 122 walks and 270 runs scored.

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Gomes was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft after attending Barry (FL) University. He was acquired by the Cleveland Indians along with Mike Aviles in exchange for Esmil Rogers on November 3, 2012.

Rodriguez, 25, went 3-3 with a 5.71 ERA in 14 games (eight starts) for the Nationals in 2018 - his first Major League season. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent on January 9, 2012.

Johnson, 23, has appeared in 288 games across three Minor League seasons since being selected in the fifth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of New Mexico State University. He has hit .281 with 57 doubles, 30 home runs, 121 RBI, 57 stolen bases, 67 walks and 159 runs scored.