The Phillies have traded right-hander Jonathan Papelbon and cash considerations to the Washington Nationals in exchange for minor league right-hander Nick Pivetta, senior vice president & general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced.
 
Pivetta, 22, has gone 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA in a combined 18 games (17 starts) between single-A Potomac and double-A Harrisburg.  He made his first 14 starts of the season with Potomac, where he was named to the Carolina League mid-season All-Star team, before being promoted to Harrisburg earlier this month.
 
A fourth-round selection in the 2013 draft, Pivetta entered the 2015 season as the 10th-best prospect in the Nationals’ organization, according to Baseball America.  The 6-foot-5, 220-pound righty is a native of Victoria, BC.

Pivetta (Victoria, BC), completed his second year as a professional last year the process put up some very impressive numbers with the Hagerstown Suns in the Single A South Atlantic League. His pitching line reads as follows: Appearances-26, Wins-13, Losses-8, ERA-4.22, Earned runs-62, Innings pitched-132 2/3, Hits-142, BB-39 and strikeouts-98. The 13 wins placed him third in the league, and he was also named to the South Atlantic League (North Division) all star team.
 
Papelbon became the Phillies’ all-time saves leader this year and is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 37 appearances.  The 34-year-old is 17-for-17 in save opportunities in 2015 and has held opposing hitters to a .211 batting average.  In his four seasons as a Phillie, Papelbon went 14-11 with 123 saves and a 2.31 ERA in 234 games while also being elected to two National League All-Star teams (2012 & 2015).