masn-baseballs-nats.jpgThe Nationals made it official today with the announcement that closer Matt Capps has signed with the team.

The 26-year-old brings impressive experience to Nats Park. With the Pirates, Capps had 67 saves, 29 holds, 3.61 ERA and a 19-19 record in five seasons.

Pitching Coach Steve McCatty says Capps “wants the ball. He is a tremendous competitor. We all like him. He seems to love to have the opportunity every game.”

Manager Jim Riggleman told me Capps will be a “huge help for our…The Nationals made it official today with the announcement that closer Matt Capps has signed with the team.

The 26-year-old brings impressive experience to Nats Park. With the Pirates, Capps had 67 saves, 29 holds, 3.61 ERA and a 19-19 record in five seasons.

Matt-Capps.jpg

Pitching Coach Steve McCatty says Capps “wants the ball. He is a tremendous competitor. We all like him. He seems to love to have the opportunity every game.”

Manager Jim Riggleman told me Capps will be a “huge help for our team. If this completes our signings (and it might not) it has truly been an unbelievable offseason for the Nats.”

Capps’ strikeout-to-walk ratio is 4.2/1 (208 Ks, 50 BBs), which ranks second only to Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon (4.5/1) among active closers with 50 or more saves.

Capps went 4-8 with 27 saves, a 5.80 ERA in 57 appearances for the last place Pirates.

Capps completes his Pirates career ranked sixth on Pittsburgh’s all-time saves list.