Nationals acquire Fister from Tigers in four-player swap

The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed starting pitcher Doug Fister from the Tigers in exchange for infielder Steve Lombardozzi, left-handed pitcher Ian Krol and minor-league left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. In 33 games/32 starts in 2013, the 29-year-old went 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA and ranked among American League leaders in GDPs induced (tied first, 26), home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (2nd, 0.60), ground ball-to-fly ball ratio (3rd, 2.17/1), walks per 9.0 innings (4th, 1.90), fielding independent pitching (6th, 3.32), wins (tied 8th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (9th, 3.61/1) and quality starts (tied 9th, 22) in his last of three seasons with Detroit. Fister joins the Nationals after going 32-20 with a 3.29 ERA in two-plus seasons (Aug. 2011-2013) with the Tigers. Fister is 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA in eight postseason games/seven starts, all with the Tigers, who won six of Fister's seven playoff starting assignments (2-0 in 2013, 2-1 in '12, 2-0 in '11). Fister is 44-50 with a 3.53 ERA in 130 games/127 starts during a five-year big league career (2009-13) with the Tigers and Mariners. He has averaged 29 starts the last four seasons and twice eclipsed the 200-inning plateau (208.2 in 2013, 216.1 in '11). In three seasons dating to 2011, the 6-foot-8 Fister ranks among all big league starters in home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (5th, 0.61), strikeout-to-walk ratio (9th, 1.8/1), walk rate (9th, 4.9%) and WAR (10th, 13.1 per FanGraphs.com). "This is an exciting day for the Washington Nationals," said Rizzo. "We feel we've added a talented, young veteran to our starting pitching corps. Doug is battle-tested through playoff experiences, and the depth he brings to our staff is exceptional. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard." On September 27, 2012, Fister set an American League record by striking out nine consecutive batters in the Tigers' 5-4 home win over the Royals. Fister originally signed with the Mariners in 2006 as a 7th-round selection after pitching collegiately at Fresno State University. Lombardozzi, 25, hit .264 with five home runs and 50 RBI in two-plus seasons with the Nationals. His team-best 13 pinch hits ranked second in MLB last year. The 22 year-old Krol went 2-1 with two holds and a 3.95 ERA in 32 appearances as a rookie with Washington in 2013. Ray, 22, was the Nationals' 12th-round selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. He won 11 games and advanced to Double-A Harrisburg for the first time last season.