Washington Nationals acquire right-hander PJ Walters from Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations

After announcing this afternoon that they were calling left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero up from Triple-A Syracuse and optioning Matt Grace to their top minor league affliate, the Washington Nationals also announced a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in which they acquired right-hander PJ Walters in return for cash considerations.

Walters, 30, is a St. Louis Cardinals' 2006 11th Round pick out of the University of South Alabama, who has pitched for the Cards, Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins over the course of five major league seasons, going (6-10) overall and putting up a 6.28 ERA, a 5.49 FIP, 62 walks (3.67 BB/9) and 104 Ks (6.16 K/9) in 40 games, 24 starts and 152 IP.

Walters signed as a free agent with the Dodgers on May 5th, and made five starts between Double-A (one outing) and Triple-A in LA's system, putting up a 4.70 ERA, a 4.62 FIP, seven walks (2.74 BB/9) and 15 Ks (5.87 K/9) in 23 IP for the Oklahoma City Dodgers before the deal.

The Nationals called right-hander Taylor Hill up from Triple-A this weekend. Nats' skipper Matt Williams said at the time that Hill was expected to work out of the bullpen and with Stephen Strasburg on the DL. A.J. Cole is an option to start in Strasburg's place if/when they need to replace him in the rotation.

Today's move gives the Nats and Syracuse Chiefs another arm with all the movement over the last few weeks.