Nationals acquire left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins from Athletics

The Washington Nationals today acquired left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league outfielder Billy Burns. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Blevins, 30, has spent parts of the last seven seasons in the Athletics' bullpen, where he's worked to a career 3.30 ERA while averaging 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Working against both left-handed batters and right-handers, Blevins has thrown back-to-back 60-plus inning seasons (60 IP in 2013, 65.1 IP in 2012). In 2013, Blevins held opponents to a .218 batting average against while possessing a 5.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio against left-handed batters in particular. Blevins also held opponents to just a .202 batting average in games away from the O.co Coliseum. "We are thrilled to welcome Jerry Blevins to our bullpen," Rizzo said. "We look forward to him bolstering our depth in that unit." Burns, 24, was selected by the Nationals in the 32nd round of the 2011 draft out of Mercer University. A speedy outfielder, Burns stole a career-high 74 bases in 2013, between Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. With the addition of Blevins, the Nationals' 40-man roster is full.