The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed reliever Ryan Perry from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Collin Balester. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

 
Perry, 24, joins the Nationals after going 5-6 with 29 holds, two saves and a 4.07 ERA (73 ER/161.1 IP) in 149 relief appearances spanning three seasons with Detroit. 
 
Detroit's first-round selection (21st overall, University of Arizona) in 2008, Perry has kept the ball on the ground (52.1% ground-ball rate per STATS, Inc.) and fanned 7.2 per 9.0 innings during his career. Last season, the 6-foot-4 Perry was touched for only one homer in 37.0 innings with the Tigers.
 
The 25 year-old Balester was originally drafted by the Expos (4th round, 2004) and finished 5-16 with a 5.17 ERA in 62 games/22 starts for Washington from 2008-11.