Nationals and Rays agree on a trade
By David Miniel
Spring Training is finally here! Pitchers and catchers across the league will begin reporting to their facilities and full team workouts will begin very soon.
Now with things getting underway, the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays were able to pull off a trade that they’ve been working on for a month. The Nats were able to bring in three players for just one from the Rays.
The Nationals acquired catcher Jose Lobaton, left handed pitcher Felipe Rivero and outfielder Drew Vettelson. They sent right handed pitcher Nate Karns to Florida in exchange for these three.
BREAKING: #Rays have traded Lobaton, and 2 others (likely minor leaguers), to #Nats for RHP Nate Karns.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 13, 2014
Lobaton played 100 games with the Rays last year and batted .249/.320/.394 across the line with three home runs and 32 RBI’s. He’ll back up Wilson Ramos behind the plate.
Rivero spent all of last season with Tampa Bay’s High-A affiliate. He posted a 3.40 ERA, 1.37 WHIp and 91/55 K/BB ratio over 127 innings of work. He’s a 22 year old prospect who could work his way through the Minors with the Nationals. Worst case? He becomes a part of a future trade package.
Outfielder Drew Vettelson was selected 42nd overall back in 2010. He was a teammate of Rivero at High-A Charlotte and batted .274/.331/.388 with four home runs and 62 RBI’s in 121 games.
The Rays receive 26 year old Karns who posted a 3.26, 1.18 WHIP and 155/48 K/BB ratio over 132 2/3 innings last year with the Nationals Double-A team. He could possibly find himself with the Rays Triple-A team in North Carolina.