Pirates' Felipe Rivero: Traded to Pirates

Rivero was traded to the Pirates on Saturday along with Taylor Hearn in exchange for Mark Melancon, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

The 25-year-old Rivero posted a 4.53 ERA in 47 appearances out of the Nationals' bullpen this season, but the peripherals suggest he's pitched far better than that figure would indicate, with his FIP checking in at 3.26. He averages better than 95 mph with his fastball, throwing a slider and a changeup as its complements, and has seen a three percent increase in swinging strikes from a year ago (to 14.5 percent). Rivero won't close for Pittsburgh anytime soon, but the lefty figures to see some high-leverage work in front of Neftali Feliz and Tony Watson.