Nationals acquire right-handers Gott, Brady from Angels for Escobar, cash considerations

The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed reliever Trevor Gott and minor league right-handed pitcher Michael Brady from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for infielder Yunel Escobar and cash considerations on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. A hard-throwing right-hander, Gott joins the Nationals after appearing in 48 games for the Angels in 2015, including his Major League debut on June 14 vs. the Oakland Athletics. The 23-year-old posted a 3.02 ERA and a 4-2 record in 47.2 innings during his first Major League season, striking out 27 batters and walking 16. Gott finished seven games for the Angels. A native of Lexington, Ky., Gott has averaged 96.74 mph on his fastball during his Major League career - and touched 98.8 mph (according to BrooksBaseball.com) -- as part of a repertoire that also includes a changeup and a curveball. A sixth-round selection of the San Diego Padres in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, Gott was a part of the package of players utilized by the Padres to acquire closer Huston Street in July, 2014. In three Minor League seasons Gott was 7-7 with a 2.69 ERA in 108 games (124.0 IP). He finished 64 games and earned 30 saves. Brady, 28, has compiled a 20-21 record and a 3.08 ERA over the course of six minor league seasons, spanning all levels (251 games, 385.1 IP). Originally a 24th-round selection of the Florida Marlins out of the University of California, Berkeley, Brady was claimed on waivers by the Angels in April, 2014. Escobar, 33, hit .314 with a .375 on-base percentage and a .415 slugging percentage in 139 games for the Nationals in 2015. The veteran infielder started 134 games at third base and clubbed 25 doubles, one triple and nine home runs. His .314 batting average ranked sixth in the National League and his 49 multi-hit games were the eighth most by any National League player in 2015. Acquired from the Oakland Athletics on January 14, 2015 in exchange for right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard, Escobar's lone season in Washington featured his highest batting average since his rookie (2007) season with the Atlanta Braves. With the addition of Gott, the Nationals currently have 37 players on their 40-man roster.