The Washington Nationals have acquired LHP Roenis Elias from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP Elvis Alvarado and LHP Taylor Guilbeau.
Elias has taken on the closer role for Seattle, and despite a high ERA, he has succeeded 14 times. He has two more years of arbitration after 2019. He will help the weak Nats bullpen that already traded for Daniel Hudson. Elias is also left handed.
Elias, who turns 31 tomorrow, has a 4.40 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 14 saves in 47 innings for the Mariners this year. In his MLB career for the Mariners and Boston Red Sox, Elias has a 4.02 ERA with 323 strikeouts and those 14 saves in 385 innings.
The Mariners get a decent haul for Elias, as Guilbeau is the Nats\’ 15th best prospect, and Alvarado isn\’t top 30, per MLB Pipeline. Elias has a bad ERA this year, and the team is rebuilding, but they\’ll need to find a new closer. They get a decent return since his amount of years with control.
Guilbeau, 26, has a 2.89 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 43.2 innings for AAA Fresno and AA Harrisburg this year. In his minor league career, he has a 4.05 ERA with 300 strikeouts in 342 innings.
Alvarado, 20, has a 6.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 15 innings for the Gulf Coast Nationals. In his two year minor league career he has a 6.28 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 28.2 innings
CarterHud 