Tigers acquire Collin Balester from Nationals for Ryan Perry

The Detroit Tigers announced the club has acquired righthanded pitcher Collin Balester from the Washington Nationals in exchange for righthanded pitcher Ryan Perry.

Balester, 25, saw action with both Washington and Triple A Syracuse during the 2011 season. He posted a 1-4 record, a 4.54 ERA (35.2IP/18ER) and 34 strikeouts in 23 appearances with Washington. Balester finished 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA (39.1IP/19ER) and 46 strikeouts in 28 outings with Syracuse.

“Acquiring Collin Balester from the Nationals today adds another good arm to our organization,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “He has shown the ability to pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen in the past, a role we are looking for him to fill for our club in 2012.”

Selected by the Montreal Expos in the fourth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Balester appeared in 62 games (22 starts) during four seasons at the major league level with the Nationals (2008-11). In 40 outings as a reliever with the Nationals, Balester compiled a 3.81 ERA (56.2IP/24ER) and 62 strikeouts.

Perry split the 2011 season between Detroit and Triple A Toledo. In 36 appearances with the Tigers, he finished 2-0 with a 5.35 ERA (37.0IP/22ER). Perry posted a 3-0 record and 3.03 ERA (32.2IP/11ER) in 20 outings with the Mud Hens in 2011.