A's acquire RHP Tyler Clippard from Washington for SS Yunel Escobar

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A's acquired right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard from the Washington Nationals for shortstop Yunel Escobar, the club announced today.

Clippard was 7-4 with a 2.18 ERA in 75 relief appearances with Washington last year. He tied for fourth among National League relievers in games, tied for eighth in innings pitched (70.1) and ranked ninth in strikeouts (82). The 29-year-old right-hander allowed a .188 opponents batting average, including .130 against right-handed hitters and .179 against first batters faced. Clippard is a two-time National League All-Star (2011, 2014) and is 37-25 with 34 saves and a 2.88 ERA in 420 career appearances in eight seasons with New York-AL (2007) and Washington (2008-14). He has appeared in 70 or more games in each of the last five seasons and his 371 games pitched over that stretch are the most in the majors. Clippard also ranks second among Major League relievers with 455 strikeouts since 2010.

Escobar was acquired by the A's from Tampa Bay on Saturday in a five-player trade that also netted the A's Ben Zobrist. He hit .258 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 137 games with the Rays in 2014. The 32-year-old right-handed hitter started 134 games at shortstop and has made 950 starts at shortstop since 2008, which are the most in the majors over that span. Escobar is a .276 career hitter with 69 home runs and 393 RBI in 1074 games in eight seasons with Atlanta (2007-10), Toronto (2010-12) and Tampa Bay (2013-14).