Saul Rivera News

The Indians completed the trade that sent Kelly Shoppach to Tampa Bay Rays by acquiring right-hander Mitch Talbot on Monday.

The Indians signed pitcher Saul Rivera to a free agent minor league contract. The contract includes a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training camp.

Mike Rizzo is all smiles here, and is hoping for some more good news tonight. AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez Mike Rizzo is busily finishing some last-minute Christmas shopping, it appears.

The Indians got right-hander Mitch Talbot today from Tampa Bay to complete the Kelly Shoppach trade.

The Washington Nationals made the first trade of the 2009 MLB winter meetings Monday, acquiring right-handed reliever Brian Bruney from the New York Yankees for a player to be named and making an early, if marginal, move to improve a bullpen that often struggled to protect leads last season.

Brian Bruney was dealt Monday to the Washington Nationals from the New York Yankees for a player to be named in the first trade of the winter meetings.

Atlanta Braves' Martin Prado, top rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against Washington Nationals pitcher Saul Rivera, bottom, during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept.

THE RESULT: The playoff-bound Los Angeles Dodgers used the cellar-dwelling Washington Nationals as a punching bag Tuesday night, pounding out 14 runs on 15 hits, five walks and three Nats' errors in a 14-2 victory.

On Thursday, Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard had an outing he would like to forget.

Do you think Jim Riggleman deserves to be the full-time manager of the Nationals? -- Kevin H., New York There is no doubt in mind.

The Nationals suffered a tough blow Thursday when Nyjer Morgan was lost for the season due to a broken left hand, but his replacement, Willie Harris, is no slouch.

Reliever Saul Rivera is usually a reliable guy on the mound. But during the first half of the 2009 season, Rivera couldn't get anybody out, giving up 11 runs in 11 2/3 innings.

Reliever Saul Rivera is usually a reliable guy on the mound. But during the first half of the 2009 season, Rivera couldn't get anybody out, giving up 11 runs in 11 2/3 innings.

Interim manager Jim Riggleman said he talked with Zimmermann in the past few days, trying to reassure the 23-year-old that the surgery won't compromise his future.

The Washington Nationals' bullpen, which began the season as a unit of young relievers the team was hoping would learn on the job, has undergone modifications, face-lifts and overhauls this season.

Anderson Hernandez's tenure with the Washington Nationals ended in a manner that reflected his diminished stature. Traded on Thursday to the New York Mets for minor league second baseman Greg Veloz, Hernandez heard the news, reported to the ballpark to clean out his locker around 11 a.m., shared quick hugs with a few teammates, and admitted a bit of surprise.

Only months earlier, Hernandez was Washington's starting second baseman. Now, he was surrounded by corrugated boxes, having been swapped for a low-level prospect who was hitting .231 in Class A.

Ward, a 34-year-old first baseman, was hitting .255 with Class AAA Charlotte this season, and has appeared in the big leagues in every year between 1998 and 2008.

Anderson Hernandez's tenure with the Washington Nationals ended in a manner that reflected his diminished stature. Traded on Thursday to the New York Mets for minor league second baseman Greg Veloz, Hernandez heard the news, reported to the ballpark to clean out his locker around 11 a.m., shared quick hugs with a few teammates, and admitted a bit of surprise.

Only months earlier, Hernandez was Washington's starting second baseman. Now, he was surrounded by corrugated boxes, having been swapped for a low-level prospect who was hitting .231 in Class A.

The Syracuse Chiefs lost another player to the Washington Nationals on Thursday.

Syracuse Chiefs manager Tim Foli looks at his current pitching staff as a brand new puzzle, one that he's excited about putting together.