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The Washington Nationals have signed journeyman left-hander Brandon Mann to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring camp next month, reports Jon Morosi of FOX Sports:
Free agent LHP Brandon Mann signs minor-league deal with #Nats including invite to ML camp, according to agent Steve Canter.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 10, 2013
Mann, 28, spent the last two seasons with the Yokohama BayStars of the Japanese Pacific League, posting a 4.27 ERA and 5.7 K/9 rate in 92⅔ innings of work. The southpaw began his tenure with the club as a reliever but made the jump into the starting rotation full-time this past season.
Before heading to Japan, Mann had eight years of professional ball in the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers' organizations primarily as a starting pitcher. The left-hander out of Washington state never made it above Double-A, but could see that change this season with the Nats.
