Nationals acquire right-hander Dakota Bacus from Athletics in exchange for catcher Kurt Suzuki

The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed pitcher Dakota Bacus from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for catcher Kurt Suzuki. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Bacus, who will report to Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League, joins the Nationals after going 9-5 with a 3.56 ERA (48 ER/121.1 IP) in 26 games/21 starts for Beloit of the Single-A Midwest League. Bacus ranked among Athletics farmhands in ERA (seventh) and wins (tied for eighth) upon his departure from that organization. The 22 year-old Bacus was Oakland's ninth-round selection in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Indiana State University. In two professional seasons, he is 12-5 with seven saves and a 3.09 ERA in 44 games/17 starts. He posted strong strikeout-to-walk (2.9/1) and home run (0.4 per 9.0 innings) ratios since signing with the Athletics last June. In his pro debut last season, Bacus went 3-0 with seven saves and a 1.80 ERA in 18 games/one start for Oakland's Rookie-level Arizona Summer League affiliate. In homerless 30.0 innings with the AZL Athletics, Bacus struck out 10.5 batters per 9.0 innings en route to a 7.0/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (35 strikeouts/5 walks). Suzuki, 29, hit .222 (56-for-252) with three home runs and 25 RBI in 79 games for Washington this season.