The Nationals on Tuesday acquired Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon in a trade for Double-A pitcher Nick Pivetta.
As part of the deal, Papelbon was assured he would close in Washington. He, in turn, agreed to restructure his contract.
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A roadblock to the Phillies trading Papelbon had been his no-trade protection and a $13 million vesting option for 2016. Papelbon waived the no-trade and gave up about $2 million as Washington agreed to guarantee the option.
Specifics on $$ for Pap: Phils give Nats $4.5M for '15. Papelbon waives option, new deal is for '16 but pays $8M next year and $3M in '17.
— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) July 29, 2015More importantly, the Nationals agreed to make Papelbon their closer. That decision will force former closer Drew Storen back into a setup role. Storen has 29 saves and a 1.73 ERA this season.
A six-time All-Star, Papelbon owns a 1.59 ERA with 40 strikeouts and eight walks in 39 1/3 innings this season for the Phillies. He has 17 saves.
“Papelbon is our ninth-inning pitcher,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters during Tuesday’s game against the Marlins, according to The Washington Post. “Drew will pitch the ninth inning at times when Papelbon is not available and be our setup guy in the eighth inning as we are constructed today. … We feel we’ve got two terrific, elite ninth-inning guys.”
This is the second time Storen has lost his closer's job because of a high-priced acquisition. Washington moved him to a setup role after it signed Rafael Soriano following Storen's blown save in the 2012 NLDS. Storen regained the closer's job late last season after Soriano struggled.
“(Storen) is a guy who we’ve had frank discussions throughout his whole career in my tenure here,” Rizzo said, per the Post. “. . . We’ve got a good rapport, but that news was difficult to take. He took it like a pro and he’s going to be a professional in the clubhouse and on the mound.”
Sporting News Media's Tom Gatto contributed to this report, which has been updated.