Nats trade Espinosa for two pitching prospects Saturday

The Washington Nationals traded frustrated infielder Danny Espinosa to the Los Angeles Angels for two minor league pitchers Saturday night. The move came after the Nationals acquired outfielder Adam Eaton on Wednesday, a deal that shifted Trea Turner from center field to shortstop and would have relegated Espinosa, Washington’s starting shortstop last season, to the bench. In response, Espinosa backed out of attending the club’s annual Winterfest at Walter E. Washington Convention Center this past weekend. Espinosa hit 24 home runs (fourth most among shortstops), but batted .209 with 174 strikeouts last season. The pitchers coming to the Nationals are Austin Adams and Kyle McGowin, both 25-year-old righthanders who weren’t considered among the Angels’ top prospects. Adams spent nearly all of 2016 pitching for Class AA Arkansas and was added to the Angels’ 40-man roster last month. He posted a 3.05 ERA and 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 32 appearances out of the bullpen. McGowin, a starter, had a 6.65 ERA in 22 starts at Class AAA Salt Lake after tallying a 4.68 ERA for Arkansas. NHL: The Washington Capitals reassigned defenseman Aaron Ness to their American Hockey League affiliate Hershey Bears. BOXING: Lorenzo Simpson of Baltimore received the Outstanding Youth Boxer Award at the USA Boxing Elite and Youth National Championships and Junior Open in Kansas City, Mo., after winning the 165-pound title Friday, a 3-2 decision over David Kaminsky of Reseda, Calif. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Rider opened the game on a 21-6 run and held off host Towson in the second half for a 79-75 victory. The Tigers (6-4) had four players score in double figures, led by sophomore guard Sianni Martin’s 22 points. The Broncs (7-2) went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 30 seconds. —