Yunel Escobar traded to Angels for Trevor Gott and Michael Brady

By Josh Land

Nationals

December 10, 2015, 11:16am

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NASHVILLE - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo waited until the end of the Winter Meetings to make a splashy move. Coming off arguably his best season at the plate, Yunel Escobar has been dealt to the Angels for reliever Trevor Gott.

Yunel Escobar runs white.jpg Gott was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft before being traded to the Angels in July 2014. The 23-year-old made his made his major league debut last June and posted a 3.02 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 48 appearances. Gott, whose fastball averaged 96 mph, struck out 27 with 16 walks over 47 2/3 innings. He held right-handed hitters to a .214 clip while lefties batted .275.

Escobar slashed .314/.375/.415 with nine homers, 25 doubles and 56 RBIs in his only season in Washington. Rizzo acquired the 33-year-old last January in a deal with Oakland for veteran right-hander Tyler Clippard. The plan initially was for Escobar to play second base but he ended up at third for the entire season after early injuries to Anthony Rendon.

The Nationals are planning to move Rendon back to third in 2016. They have dynamic rookie Trea Turner waiting to take over at shortstop and Danny Espinosa capable of playing either middle infield position. The team was also pursuing Ben Zobrist, presumably to play second base, before the versatile infielder/outfielder signed with the Cubs.

However, I'm excited to say that I am now a part of the @Nationals and can't wait to be a part of such a great organization! #nationals
-- Trevor Vaughan Gott (@Trevor_Gott) December 10, 2015

Minor league right-handed pitcher Michael Brady was also acquired by the Nats. Brady, 28, is 20-21 record with a 3.08 ERA over six minor league seasons.