NEU » nest boys, they try their best, it just isn

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Washington Nationals found a reliable pitcher for the ninth inning, acquiring All-Star closer Mark Melancon from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.Washington sent reliever Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn to the Pirates for Melancon, who supplants struggling Jonathan Papelbon as Washingtons closer. Melancon is expected to join the Nationals on Sunday for their series finale at San Francisco.Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dusty Baker called Melancon on Saturday. Both Rizzo and Baker said they were impressed that Melancon told them he planned to immediately check in with Papelbon.It says a lot about his character and makeup, and that was a big reason why he was such an attractive target to us, Rizzo said. His performance level is great, but his makeup and character are a lot of the reason that we went out and got him. That tells me hes team-first and Mark Melancon second.A 31-year-old right-hander, Melancon has converted 30 of 33 saves with a 1.51 ERA this season and joins his fifth organization in eight years. He is making $9.65 million and is eligible for free agency after the World Series.Once considered a possible successor to Mariano Rivera when he broke into the majors with the New York Yankees in 2009, Melancon said during the All-Star break he knew a trade was possible, given his contract status.The move comes as the Pirates find themselves on the fringe of the wild-card race. While general manager Neal Huntington stressed the team remains committed to reaching the playoffs for a fourth straight season, the opportunity to deal Melancon -- who led the majors with 51 saves in 2015 and had 33 in 14 -- for two young arms with friendly long-term contracts was too good to pass up.Rivero is under team control through 2021 and hit 100 mph on the radar gun regularly during an extended relief appearance against the Pirates this month. If Melancon left as a free agent, Pittsburgh would have received a high draft pick as compensation.We knew full well that holding Mark Melancon would have been a good return, but at the end of the day we felt this was a better return for us, Huntington said.This was Melancons fourth season in Pittsburgh after he also pitched for Houston, Boston and the Yankees.He will move his family once more -- his wife and three kids.This has been a blast. Pittsburgh has a special place in heart. My family has been treated so well, Melancon said. The experiences weve had, just running through my mind all the wild-card games, just big games that weve been in. From where we started, to where we are now, it is an honor. It is an honor to be a Pirate. We got to go through those experiences together. My teammates are my best friends.Papelbon is 2-4 with a 4.41 ERA and has allowed eight runs and seven hits in his past three outing. Baker wouldnt say earlier Saturday whether Papelbon still was his closer. Baker pulled Papelbon from a game Thursday in the ninth inning.Rivero, a 25-year-old lefty, is 0-3 with a 4.53 ERA this season. Hearn is a 21-year-old lefty who was the Nationals fifth-round pick in the 2015 amateur draft.The Pirates will plug Rivero into a seventh-inning role, with Neftali Feliz working the eighth and Tony Watson in the ninth. Watson was an All-Star in 2014 in a set-up role and will take over a position where Pittsburgh has enjoyed plenty of success during its rise from mediocrity. Each of its previous three closers: Melanon, Jason Grilli and Joel Hanrahan, made the All-Star team wearing black-and-gold.Manager Clint Hurdle said he will miss Melancon but is confident in his bullpen options.I love the guy, love the family. Happy we had him. He helped us, I believe we helped him, Hurdle said. We are not giving up anything, we arent lowering the bar. We are not settling. Our organization made a baseball trade, with confidence that our bullpen is going to be in a good place. We are going to be able to compete this year, we are going to be able to add to our competition level in the years to come.Huntington hinted the team may try to take the money it will save by not paying the remaining portion of Melancons contract and use it before Mondays trade deadline. The Pirates need help in the starting rotation, which has been forced to turn to rookies Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow quickly as established players Jeff Locke, John Niese and Juan Nicasio faltered.Also Saturday, Washington recalled right-handed pitcher Reynaldo Lopez from Triple-A Syracuse.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Robinson Zapata Colombia Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Radamel Falcao Jersey . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. http://www.nationalcolombiafootball.com/carlos-valderrama-colombia-jersey/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Edwin Cardona Colombia Jersey . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Daniel Torres Colombia Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check.Dundee United boss Mixu Paatelainen reckons it would be a senseless decision if he was dismissed following the clubs relegation. A campaign steeped in misery was capped for the suffering United fans when Dundee came from behind to win 2-1 in Mondays derby match at Dens Park.Edward Ofere had given the visitors the lead before Kostadin Gadzhalovs equaliser, and Uniteds fate was sealed in stoppage-time when Craig Wighton netted the winner. Paatelainen replaced Jackie McNamara at Tannadice in October but his appointment did not produce the spark the stagnant squad required.The Finn repeatedly questioned the character of the players he inherited but of the five signings Paatelainen made, only goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was in the line-up that lost to Dundee.Although Paatelainen accepts his position is now in doubt, he insisted he is the man to lead United out of next seasons Championship. Dundee United suffered relegation to the Scottish Championship He said: We have been here a few months now, working with this team and for the club. Weve got the necessary knowledge of what has to be done.To be honest, we did identify early on the things that needed to be done. The knowledge is there, the plan is there. Not only player-wise but also off the field, football related. I think only a fool would put that to waste, the knowledge that we have.After registering just five league wins since taking over, United are staring at their first campaign outside of the top division in 20 years.When asked if he had considered walking away, Paatelainen said: No. I dont give up. We came here this season. The ship was sinking already. We tried to tackle those problems personnel-wise. The January window is difficult and we have improved, just not enough Dundee United scorer Edward Ofere (l) and Mark Durnan at full-time Mistakes keep creeping in and we simply cant afford to have that.dddddddddddd That is why we need a totally new angle on things. I am desperate to do that, I love working hard, I dont count hours, I dont have days off.Look at the support today... it has been a miserable season for us and the supporters have been there for us every day. Tonight we gave them a little bit, though not enough to put up with their suffering.I think the players attitude towards work is excellent, they are honest boys, they try their best, it just isnt good enough. There is softness, slackness, they think someone else can track those players. It is a mentality thing. Dundees Paul McGowan (left) with Paul Dixon Paatelainen concedes it would be helpful if under-pressure chairman Stephen Thompson, whose own future is undecided after he announced he is looking for someone to buy the club from him, set him and the supporters straight on his plans for next season.I dont dictate what the chairman does, said the 49-year-old. I work for the club, for the team, and it is as simple as that.I have a contract and I work regardless of whether there is a statement out about my future. I dont mind speculation although I dont think it is healthy for the club, maybe that would help the situation but I dont advise the chairman. I dont expect him to do anything. Also See: Dundee Utd fixtures Dundee Utd stats Scottish Prem table ' ' '