"Just a few months ago, the Washington Nationals envisioned Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan as building blocks -- the future center fielder, the future closer. Yesterday, in a move dictated by a pair of disappointing seasons, the Nationals sent Milledge and Hanrahan to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for outfielder Nyjer Morgan and relief pitcher Sean Burnett, both of whom will be in uniform for today's series finale in Florida.

The first significant trade orchestrated by acting general manager Mike Rizzo reflected his team-building strategy, which favors reliability over high-yield potential, a counter to predecessor Jim Bowden. The trade, too, commences Washington's attempt to restock a malformed roster on which few outfielders can catch and few relievers can hold leads.

The Nationals had hoped Hanrahan could serve as their closer, but five blown saves, shaky confidence and a 7.71 ERA cost him the job -- twice. The Nationals had hoped Milledge could play center field and bat leadoff, but poor defensive instincts and fleeting patience made him ill-suited for both roles and led to his mid-April demotion to the minors.

Neither Morgan nor Burnett can carry a team, but both fill voids. Morgan will become the centerfielder and leadoff man. Burnett (1-2, 3.06 ERA), a left-handed specialist with the Pirates, will pitch both to lefties and righties in the middle innings.

"We addressed two of our biggest needs: athleticism and defensive ability in center field, and a bullpen guy we'll have control over the next three years," Rizzo said. "