On the surface, the Nationals' trade earlier today sending right-hander Collin Balester to the Detroit Tigers for right-hander Ryan Perry is a bit of a head-scratcher. But what looks like a straight-up deal of similar pitchers who had hit proverbial dead ends with the organizations that drafted them is actually more of a minute tweak for each club. Let's tackle Balester first. The 25-year-old was drafted by the Expos in 2004, and while he showed promise as a starting pitcher early in his...

While the Nationals didn't make any headlines during the Winter Meetings, the team won't finish the week without at least one move. According to a press release, the Nationals have acquired right-handed reliever

DALLAS - The Nationals' search for a center fielder who can hit leadoff may lead to Boston, where the Red Sox could be willing to part with an outfielder in exchange for a pitcher. New Boston general manager Ben Cherington is dangling Ryan Kalish and Josh Reddick in hopes that he can pry an arm from the Nationals, according to a major league source. Kalish is a 23-year-old left-handed hitter who reached the majors in 2010 and hit .252 with hour homers and 24 RBIs and stole 10 bases in 53...

It's that time of the year! No, not fall or football or the closing weeks until Christmas. It's that time of year when men all over put aside their dignity and penchant for not looking like a creepy old guy and do what men do best - grow facial hair. In the mustache world, it's referred to as Movember, and the Nationals' Collin Balester is on board. At the Movember Web site, Balester's profile shows the Nationals pitcher with a mean-looking 'stache, coupled with the tagline of...

Nationals right-handed relief pitcher Collin Balester said he was not bothered by the cold weather or being extended more than one inning during Saturday's 13-inning loss to the Florida Marlins. Donnie Murphy hit a two-run shot in the 13th to break a 1-1 tie and help the Marlins to a 4-1 victory. Balester said pitching that long in relief wasn't the concern and he felt he was doing pretty well. "I have done it before, probably five or six times this year (having been extended for more...

Nationals right-hander Collin Balester has been through his share of earthquakes growing up in Huntington Beach, Calif., so you would expect today's 5.9 magnitude seism to be no big deal to him. But he said the earthquake that shook the east coast Tuesday afternoon makes the list of one of the bigger quakes he has experienced in his lifetime. "You feel earthquakes all the time (in California) and most of the time you don't even feel them," Balester said. "I guess the building structures...

The Nationals recalled right-handed reliever Collin Balester from Triple-A Syracuse before Wednesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Balester has gotten into a nice groove at Syracuse. He was 2-0 with one save and a 3.24 ERA in 19 games, striking out 29 and allowing just one home run. Balester appeared in three Nationals games earlier this season and got roughed up a bit. But he has made an adjustment in his pitch choices. Balester said he has started to throw his changeup more...

If you're a baseball fan on Twitter these days, it's likely that you've encountered an account for a ball player's facial hair. Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth's beard has a Twitter handle, as does San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Wilson's jet-black growth. Nationals farmhands Bryce Harper (and his attempt at upper-lip fuzz) and Collin Balestar's mustache have also gotten into the Twitter game. All this talk over facial hair got me wondering - does Major League Baseball care about...

The Nationals recalled 24-year-old right-hander Collin Balester from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Todd Coffey. Coffey has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left calf strain. Balester has thrown five scoreless innings of relief for Syracuse this season. In his most recent outing last Monday at Lehigh Valley (Phillies), Balester allowed one hit over two innings with three strikeouts. Last year he was very impressive in 17 appearances, averaging 12 strikeouts per nine innings and...

What a difference a year has made for Nationals right-hander Collin Balester. Heading into spring training 2010, Balester was a starter with 22 games under his belt, but not much consistency - and a tendency for giving up some big runs. After working hard in the minors to redefine his role and regain confidence on the mound, Balester made a nice transition to the bullpen. "I think this year I feel a lot better where I am at," Balester said. "Last year, I heard going in, 'If you don't...

Professional athletes and celebrities including Nationals pitcher Collin Balester have teamed up with TwitChange, an online organizing and fundraising service to raise money for Operation Once in a Lifetime. The TwitChange campaign is led by Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, who recruited dozens of fellow athletes and celebrities on Twitter to join his cause. From today through Feb. 5, fans can bid on Twitter-inspired auctions featuring their favorite celebrities and athletes including...

The Nats and Mets are even at 1-1 in the series following Tuesday's 4-1 New York win at Nats Park. After starters Jordan Zimmermann and Yunesky Maya departed in the first two games, the bullpen threw nine innings of shutout ball. Scott Olsen, Collin Balester and Ross Detwiler combined to throw nine scoreless innings, 10 strikeouts, and just a pair of walks. Olsen threw four innings on Monday. Balester pitched the ninth inning yesterday and two innings today, striking out five of the nine...

Right-handed pitcher Collin Balester got the call back to the big leagues this weekend - for one game tonight. He joined the Nationals in Milwaukee Saturday. The 24-year-old Balester has made the transition this season from starter to reliever and he told me he has embraced the change completely. "It is all about attitude coming out of the bullpen. You have to let it all go. When you get the call out of the pen, you have to be ready to pitch. I come out firing, ready to go right...

After he was roughed up in Syracuse to start the season, the Nationals decided to convert right-hander Collin Balester from a starter to a reliever. So they sent Collin to extended spring training in Viera, Florida, where he has faced off against the Astros, Braves and Tigers, among other squads. In his most recent outing, Balester told me he went two innings and allowed no runs. "I felt my changeup was a lot better. The two-seam fastball and curveball were good. This experience will help...

Nats pitcher Collin Balester had a nice throwing session with a pair of minor leaguers today, and tomorrow he'll pitch with new teammate Matt Capps for the first time. In crucial news, Collin has really worked on his moustache in the offseason. It's getting to Rollie Fingers proportions. Collin told me, "I like to twist the sides with some moustache wax. When someone looks at your face and they have trouble recognizing you with the crazy moustache that is where it is going to be...