The Washington Nationals have a new closer, landing All-Star Jonathan Papelbon from the Philadelphia Phillies.
And the NL East race is shaping up to be a whole lot of fun down the stretch.
On the night the Nationals got Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman back from long stints on the disabled list, they also landed Papelbon from the Phillies and wasted no time announcing that he will be taking over the closer duties from Drew Storen. It didn't help Washington any Tuesday night, as the Nationals lost to the Miami Marlins 4-1.
Washington's loss, combined with the New York Mets' win over San Diego, cut the Nationals' lead in the NL East to one game.
Jose Fernandez (4-0) allowed four hits and one run in six innings for Miami, improving his all-time record at Marlins Park to 15-0. Martin Prado had three hits while Dee Gordon — whose standup triple in the sixth helped Miami take the lead for good — and Christian Yelich each had two for the Marlins.
Jordan Zimmermann (8-6) gave up eight hits and three runs in six innings. The Nationals lost for the first time in his last seven starts.
Zimmerman had two hits, while Bryce Harper reached base for the 24th consecutive game and 43rd straight on the road for the Nationals. But plenty of attention was on the new arrangement in the Washington bullpen, and understandably so.
Papelbon is Philadelphia's career saves leader with 123 and is 17 for 17 in save chances this season. Papelbon is also Boston's saves leader with 219.
The 34-year-old right-hander had said he wouldn't accept a trade unless he would remain a closer, and agreed to waive his no-trade clause after getting the assurances he needed from Washington. Storen, 29 for 31 in save chances this season, shifts to primarily a setup role.
"Papelbon is our ninth-inning pitcher," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "Drew will pitch the ninth inning at times when Papelbon is unavailable and be our setup guy in the eighth inning as we are constructed today. Paps hasn't pitched too many three-days-in-a-row stints. We're going to be careful with him and we feel that we've got two terrific, elite ninth-inning guys who can close out games in pressure situations."
As part of the trade, Papelbon's $13 million option for 2016 becomes a guaranteed $11 million salary. Some of that money will be deferred, Rizzo said, adding that the Nationals weren't worried about bringing Papelbon into their clubhouse mix.
"This guy wants to win," Rizzo said. "First and foremost, he wants to win. He's a winner. He's won his whole career. He excels in pressure situations and that's his personality. Does it grate on the opposition at times? Yes, it does, but he comes with high credentials, high praise from his teammates and guys who have been around him."
The Phillies will receive Double-A right-hander Nick Pivetta for Papelbon. The Nationals designated catcher Dan Butler for assignment.
The rebuilding Phillies are also trying hard to trade ace Cole Hamels, who threw his first career no-hitter last Saturday at the Cubs. The 2008 World Series MVP has three years remaining in a $144 million, six-year contract, a deal that includes a club option for 2019. Like Papelbon, Hamels has made it clear he'd like to go to a contender. The three-time All-Star has a limited no-trade clause so he might have to approve a deal.
Rizzo said he met with Storen while the deal was being put together, and that he took the news well.
"He took it like a pro," Rizzo said.
The Phillies are a major league-worst 37-63. They signed Papelbon to a $50 million, four-year deal in November 2011.
"We felt this was the best deal we could have made for the opportunity to get ourselves a back-end-of-the-bullpen type of guy," Rizzo said. "We had a lot of discussions with a lot of teams about a lot of relief pitchers. ... We think we've got one of the elite closers in the game of baseball."
The Nationals expect Papelbon in Miami on Wednesday. Papelbon has appeared in the 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 postseasons, going 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA and converting seven saves in nine opportunities.
