NL East Notes: Phillies bullpen, Jayson Werth deferred extra cash

Jayson Werth reportedly accepted less money this season in order to give the Nationals the flexibility necessary to improve the roster this winter, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

Werth accepted $10 million less this season, Rosenthal notes. Deferrals were not mentioned in Werth's seven-year, $126 million deal.

They were evident, though, in the Nationals' deals with Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer.

Werth, according to a copy of his contract recently obtained by FOX Sports, amended his deal last Oct. 15 to defer $10 million of his 2016 salary at 5 percent simple interest. The money, according to a source, will be paid in 2018.

More from around the National League East:

• Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is rehabbing in California with a physical therapist, but there is no set timetable for his return.

• The Phillies are 14-3 in one-run games and a lot of their success in close games is related to the performance of their bullpen. An area that looked like Philadelphia's weakness quickly became a strength.

• Erick Aybar was taken to the hospital Thursday after choking on a chicken bone. He had to be sedated but eventually had it removed.

• Marlins Manager Don Mattingly has been able to have success with a young roster to this point. He is being praised for stability.

• Nationals Manager Dusty Baker thinks Gio Gonzalez continues to get better each time he takes the mound, proving he is one of Washington's best starting arms.

• There wasn't expected to be consistent competition for the NL East title. To this point, that has not proven to be the case.