A's get Tyler Clippard from Nationals for Yunel Escobar (w/video)

WASHINGTON - Infielder Yunel Escobar is heading to the Nationals, and All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard is going to the Athletics, thanks to the ninth deal between those clubs in a little more than four years.

The swap, announced Wednesday, gives Washington a player who could solve its search for a starting second baseman.

The A’s just picked up Escobar from Tampa Bay, along with Ben Zobrist, in a trade Saturday that sent catcher John Jaso and two minor leaguers to the Rays.

Among the players who have been part of the Oakland-Washington pipeline since December 2010 as A’s general manager Billy Beane and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo strike deal after deal: Gio Gonzalez, Josh Willingham, Kurt Suzuki, Jerry Blevins, Tommy Milone and Derek Norris.

The 32-year-old Escobar hit .258 with seven homers and 39 RBIs for Tampa Bay last season.

The right-handed Clippard, Washington’s eighth-inning setup man, went 7-4 with a 2.18 ERA in 75 appearances in 2014. He was an NL All-Star in 2011 and 2014.

On Twitter, Clippard wrote: “Would love to take this opportunity to thank all the #nats fans. ... I loved every second of my time in DC, through the ups and downs the good and bad, every second was wonderful. Thanks forever Nats Nation!”

The 29-year-old is 37-25 with a 2.88 ERA and 34 saves in eight big league seasons, one with the New York Yankees and the last seven with the Nationals.

He is the only reliever to pitch in more than 70 games each of the past five seasons.

The A’s already have an All-Star closer in left-hander Sean Doolittle, who saved 22 games last season.