Not exactly a blockbuster deal. But the Nats have at least kicked off Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings with a trade. They acquired right-handed relief pitcher Brian Bruney from the Yankees for — nothing. At least for now. The old player-to-be-named-later deal means New York’s part of the deal will be consumated later.
The Nats had to release reliever Saul Rivera to make room on their 40-man roster for Bruney. The 27-year-old was 5-0 with 14 holds and a 3.92 ERA for the Yankees in 2009. He is 8-0 with 26 holds and a 2.95 ERA over the last two seasons. Nats GM MIke Rizzo is familiar with Bruney, who pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 and 2005 when Rizzo was with that organization. He’s a power arm — 8.9 strikeouts per 9 innings — who can’t seem to stay healthy for any extended period of time. He had an elbow injury at the end of last season and didn’t pitch in the first two rounds of the playoffs for New York. He pitched just 1/3 inning in the World Series against the Phillies and gave up three hits and two runs in a 6-1 loss. But he’s another option for Rizzo as he tries to rebuild what was the sport’s worst bullpen last season.
