Gott, Perez and Kelley eager to pitch in alongside highly regarded Nationals staff

The Nationals' three newest pitching acquisitions met with the media Sunday at Winterfest.

Right-handed reliever Trevor Gott, 23, arrives from the Los Angeles Angels. Gott pitched in 48 games last season for the Angels with a 4-2 record and 3.02 ERA.

Gott was thrilled to get the call that he was heading east, closer to his native Lexington, Kentucky.

"I was excited. I think it'll be a good opportunity for me," Gott said. "Obviously, the Angels did a lot for my career and gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues. But that's just part of the business, you get traded and I'm really excited."

Gott made his debut last season on June 14 against Oakland. He fit in well early with the Angels pitchers that helped him quickly get up to speed. He's also excited to be able to play alongside the biggest young stars in the majors in just his first two seasons.

"It was awesome. I got used to everything," Gott said. "I had guys like Joe Smith and Huston Street to help guide me along in the bullpen. Help me figure out how everything works. Played with (Mike) Trout, now get to play with (Bryce) Harper. It's pretty cool. I've been on two very good teams with two of the best young players in the game."

Does he want to someday be a closer?

"I think all relievers' goal is to become a closer at some point," Gott said. "But that's a long-term goal. Right now, I'm just trying to fit in with the Nationals wherever they want me and whatever I can do to help the team win."

Gott features a fastball that has been clocked at a 96.74 mph average and has touched 98.8 mph.

"I'm heavy fastball, I throw a slider, slurve and changeup," Gott said. "I don't throw the changeup a whole lot, but it's coming along."

In only three and a half months, Gott already knows what is required to pitch at the major league level.

"Mainly, you have to bring it every day, a little more than the minor leagues," Gott said. "You have to be ready every day. You have to be consistent. You can't work on stuff during games like you can in the minor leagues. You have to have your best stuff every day, and if you don't, you have to figure out a way to still get people out."

Gott said everything has been good in his first few days in D.C. with the Nationals except for a unfortunate bout of food poisoning from a local fast food establishment. Gott played with Joe Ross while they were both in the Padres minor league system. He enjoyed meeting Nats fans at Winterfest.

"I love it though, the fans seem awesome," he said. "Met some this morning."

The Nationals also welcomed back 34-year-old left-hander Oliver Perez, who earned a second chance in the majors thanks in part to a stop at Double-A Harrisburg in 2011.

"I've been here before, and I know a couple guys and I know the organization," Perez said. "As soon as they told me the Nationals were very interested in signing you, I was really happy because I know we got a really good team and we have a chance to be in the playoffs this year."

Perez remembers starting with the Senators in 2011. At the end of the season, Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams recommended that Perez become a full-time reliever.

"That was like my second chance," Perez said. "I was having trouble being consistent, healthy. When I get to Double-A, I had time to set it up and thinking about what could be next for me. That was a really good decision to move to the bullpen to try to come back to the big leagues."

"Williams talked to me a lot. I say thanks to him. I know him from the Pirates. He told me, 'You pitch really good against lefties. As soon as you get to the big leagues, go to the bullpen and figure out how to get the lefties out,' and that's why I went to winter ball and try to start working out as a reliever. I figured it out quickly and signed with Seattle and came to the big leagues."

Perez said he embraced the chance to work out of the bullpen because he made several more appearances and high-leverage situations almost every game.

"I kind of like it because I got a chance to pitch every day," Perez said. "That's the game I love. It's a really good experience, being in a tough situation almost every day because in my hand I can decide the game. I think that can sometimes be hard but it's fun at the same moment. You can learn more passion for the job you're doing."

Right-hander Shawn Kelley, 31, joins the Nationals after a sterling season with the San Diego Padres. He went 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 53 games for the Friars, striking out 63 hitters and walking only 15 in 51 1/3 innings.

Why was he so good last season, his seventh campaign in the majors?

"That's a good question," Kelley said. "But I'm going to try to do the same exact thing this year. I think every year, I've gotten a little bit better. Regardless what some of the traditional stats may say, I've gotten better. I've learned a lot about myself and what I want to do and what it takes to get some of these hitters out, knowing the league more and more."

When Kelley found out the Nationals were interested, he was equally excited.

"It is a good fit. It's going to be a good league," Kelley said. "I wanted to be somewhere that was going to compete. Not just trying to get into the playoffs, not just hoping. I wanted to go somewhere where they're taking about possibly contending for a World Series.

"Probably I don't have that many years left to pitch, I've already pitched seven (years), I'm 31 years old. I want to go somewhere for a few years where I got a chance to maybe get a ring and that's really all I have left to do that I really want to do."

Kelley was also known for some pretty hilarious pregame antics while with the New York Yankees. During his tenure in the Big Apple, Kelley wore a rubber like Halloween-style horse head mask during warmups. The Yankees went on a win streak after he donned the mask.

"Everybody keeps asking me about this horse head. I don't even know what they're talking about," he said with a smile. "I have heard that a lot. It's been great. I've asked a few people, 'Are you going to be this welcoming if I give up a homer and cost the game?' Some people said yes and some people said no. But everybody has been real nice and welcomed me here."

Will the horse head make an appearance with the Nationals?

"The horse head is not retired," Kelley said. "But I will not comment any further. That will be something you'll just have to keep in the back of your mind and see what happens."

Kelley will wear jersey No. 27 in D.C. which was also worn by Jordan Zimmermann. Was Kelley concerned of possible backlash for wearing such a beloved number with the Nats?

"When I did my physical and I was over at the field the other day they asked me what number I want and the clubhouse manager had actually put me down for No. 27 because I wore that in New York. I said, 'Is that too soon?' And he said, 'It's just a number, nobody'll mind,' " Kelley said.

"I said all right, I'll take it. I wore it before, so new team, new year. If somebody can use Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s number, then I feel like anybody can wear anybody's number."