Nationals Acquire RHP Omar Poveda From White Sox; Nats Sign LHP Aaron Laffey

With just one day to go until Opening Day in New York's Citi Field, the Washington Nationals announced this afternoon that they acquired 26-year-old right-hander Omar Poveda from the Chicago White Sox in a Minor League trade in return for cash considerations and signed LHP Aaron Laffey to a minor league deal:

#Nats have acquired RHP Omar Poveda from #WhiteSox in a Minor Lg. trade for cash considerations & signed LHP Aaron Laffey to Minor Lg. deal

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 30, 2014

Poveda, 26, is a 6'3'', Venezuelan-born righty who spent five seasons in the Texas Rangers' organization, two with the Miami Marlins and last year with Atlanta before signing a Minor League deal with the White Sox this winter.

Pitching at Triple-A Gwinnett in the Braves' system in 2013, the veteran of eight minor league seasons and 1042 2/3 IP overall in the minors, made 27 appearances, 25 of them starts, posting a 3.62 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 59 walks (3.24 BB/9) and 133 Ks (7.30 K/9) in 164 IP.

Laffey, a 28-year-old, 6'2'' lefty, signed with the Baltimore Orioles this past January, but the seven-year veteran was released last week.

Washington Nationals 2014 Season Preview

Photo © Evan Habeeb/US PRESSWIRE

The '03 Cleveland Indians' 16th Round pick pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets in 2013, making just five appearances between the two teams, three of them as a starter, and putting up a 7.11 ERA, 5.50 FIP, 10 walks (7.11 BB/9) and nine Ks (6.39 K/9) in 12 2/3 IP. In 153 appearances and 487 career innings pitched in the majors, the southpaw has a combined 4.45 ERA, a 4.47 FIP, 4.47 K/9 and 3.62 BB/9. `