Nationals trade Xavier Cedeno to Dodgers in return for cash considerations

Xavier Cedeno made the Washington Nationals' Opening Day bullpen, but struggled out of the gate. The 28-year-old left-hander gave up three hits, two walks and two earned runs in 3.0 IP before the Nats designated him for assignment back on April 14th and called right-hander Rafael Martin up from Syracuse.

Cedeno, who was claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros by the Nationals back in April of 2013, was up and down between Washington and Triple-A Syracuse during his two-plus seasons with the organization, going (5-1) with a 2.29 ERA, a 2.37 FIP, 12 walks (2.75 BB/9) and 57 Ks (13.04 K/9) in 39 ⅓ innings pitched with the Nationals' top minor league affiliate last season.

In seven major league innings in 2014, Cedeno posted a 3.86 ERA, 3.56 FIP, no walks and five Ks.

"'[Cedeño] had struggled a little bit this year,'" Nationals' General Manager Mike Rizzo told reporters, including Washington Post writer James Wagner, after Cedeno was DFA'd.

"'He’s out of [minor league] options. It was the thing to create the roster spot for Martin was to designate him.'"

This afternoon, the Nationals announced that they traded Cedeno to the Los Angeles Dodgers in return for cash considerations:

The #Nats have traded LHP Xavier Cedeno to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations.

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 22, 2015

The Nationals went a few days with only one left-hander, Matt Thornton, in the bullpen, but they called hard-throwing 23-year-old left-hander Felipe Rivero up to the majors last week. In his MLB debut, Rivero gave up three hits and one earned run while striking out two.

No word on the amount of the cash considerations received from the Dodgers in return for Cedeno.