Veteran Herrera bolsters Nats’ pen

WASHINGTON — Getting a jump on the trade deadline to add talent to the back of their bullpen, the Nationals picked up righthander Kelvin Herrera from the Royals on Monday for three minor-leaguers.

The Nationals sent infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, outfielder Blake Perkins and 17-year-old pitcher Yohanse Morel to the Royals.

Herrera has 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA this season. He has allowed three earned runs in 252⁄3 innings while striking out 22 batters and walking two.

The 28-year-old is a two-time AL All-Star who helped the Royals win the 2015 World Series — and is among the last players left from that title team. Herrera has gone 23-27 with 57 saves and a 2.75 ERA across 442 games in relief over eight seasons in the majors.

He will join left-handed closer Sean Doolittle and eighth-inning righty Ryan Madson in the back of the bullpen. Brandon Kintzler, the usual seventh-inning man, has been on the disabled list since June 10 with a strained flexor in his right forearm.

Instead of waiting to make moves at the July 31 non-waiver deadline, the Nationals opted to strike now. They are the twotime reigning NL East champions but have never won a postseason series. They stand in second place in the division behind the Braves.

The Royals, meanwhile, are already way out of contention in last place in the weak AL Central. They already shipped outfielder Jon Jay to the Diamondbacks for a pair of minor-leaguers earlier this month.

This is the second time in recent years the Royals have traded a high-profile closer. They also sent Wade Davis to the Cubs in December 2016.