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FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal is reporting this afternoon that the relief-challenged Washington Nationals have acquired relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson from the Oakland Athletics in return for right-hander Blake Treinen and prospects Jesus Luzardo and Sheldon Neuse.
The Nationals, who were unable to land the high-end closer they were after this winter have struggled this season after opting to go with in-house options at the back end of the bullpen.
Treinen, who returns to the A’s after he was acquired from Oakland back in 2013 in a three-team trade with the Seattle Mariners, returns to the Athletics after he struggled out of the gate after being named the Nationals’ closer out of Spring Training.
Luzardo, 19, is a 2016 3rd Round pick, who fell to the Nationals after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He’s returned to action this season with three starts in for Washington’s Gulf Coast League affiliate.
Neuse, 22, is a 2016 2nd Round pick out of the University of Oklahoma. In 113 games over the last two seasons, he’s put up a .273/.335/.431 line with 24 doubles and 10 home runs for the NY/Penn League’s Auburn Doubledays and Low-A Hagerstown Suns.
More information on the deal when it is available, but the Nationals have confirmed the details already...
Sources: #Nationals acquiring Doolittle and Madson from #Athletics for Treinen and two prospects.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 16, 2017
Prospects headed to #Athletics from #Nationals are LH Jesus Lazardo and 3B Sheldon Neuse. Those two plus Treinen for Doolittle, Madson.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 16, 2017
Nationals are acquiring relievers Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle from the A's, as @Ken_Rosenthal said, according to person familiar.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) July 16, 2017
Madson, 36, has a 2.06 ERA, a 2.43 FIP, six walks (1.37 BB/9) and 39 Ks (8.92 K/9) in 38 1⁄3 innings pitched for the A’s so far this season.
Doolittle, 30, has a 3.38 ERA, a 2.34 FIP, two walks (0.84 BB/9) and 31 Ks (13.08 K/9) in 21 1⁄3 IP, though the left-hander missed time with a shoulder strain earlier this season.
Is Rizzo done adding to the bullpen? We’d guess not, but we’ll see what the Nationals’ GM does next. And what is this his 11th trade with the A’s? We think we have that count right...