Washington Nationals avoid arbitration with Drew Storen

The Washington Nationals have avoided arbitration with pitcher Drew Storen and agreed to a one-year $2.5 million contract, according to his representatives at CAA Sports. The deal includes $1 million in performance bonuses. Storen won't be a free agent until after the 2016 season.

Storen, 25, was 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA last season in 30 ⅓ innings last season. Storen missed the first three months after having surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow. In 2011, Storen saved 43 games with a 2.75 ERA. For his career, Storen is 13-8 with a 2.96 ERA and 52 saves in 161 innings.

The Nationals signed Rafael Soriano to close earlier this week, but Mike Rizzo made it known today that he is still confident in Storen's abilities. Washington's bullpen broke down in Game 5 of the NLDS last season. With the Nationals ahead 7-5 in the ninth inning, Storen entered and blew the save, giving up four runs.

The Nationals still have six more players who are arbitration eligible in Roger Bernadina, Craig Stammen, Jordan Zimmermann, Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond and Ross Detwiler.