LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 19: Mark Melancon #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 at Dodger Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

The two-year search for a reliable 9th inning arm for the Washington Nationals appears to be over, as they traded for Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star closer Mark Melancon on Saturday.

The move was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

A similar move was made last year, with the Nationals acquiring Jonathan Papelbon in the hopes of closing the gap on the New York Mets. Instead, Papelbon has been a major liability and it appears the Nationals are done waiting on him to figure things out.

The Pirates sent Melancon to the Nationals for fellow reliever Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn.

It wasn’t a surprising move for the Pirates, who sit in third place in the National League Central division and had an All-Star who was up for free agency after this year in Melancon.

The Nationals get a closer who has converted on 30 of 33 saves this season with a rock solid ERA of 1.51, compared to Papelbon who has a 4.41 ERA and has allowed eight runs and seven hits in his past three outings alone.

Melancon should be used to moving and thus attractive to the Nationals, as he hits his fifth organization in eight years following his first big break in to the majors with the New York Yankees back in 2009.

Washington sit at 61-42 and 6.5 games ahead in the NL East division, while just one game out of the best record in Major League Baseball behind the Chicago Cubs.

Adding this piece could put an offensive juggernaut over the top and into the World Series, as long as it doesn’t go sour like the move for Papelbon did last season and into this one.

As for Papelbon, he will face a role other than closer for the first time in his career since his rookie season and with the lowered pressure, may be a huge asset come the playoffs.

[ESPN]

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!