Nationals sign Joaquin Benoit to 1-year deal

The Nationals have signed right-handed pitcher Joaquin Benoit to a one-year, $1 million deal, according to Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post. The deal is pending a physical.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN first reported that the two sides had agreed to a contract.

Benoit is entering his 17th major-league season with his ninth different club after also having played for the Rangers, Rays, Tigers, Padres, Mariners, Blue Jays, Phillies and Pirates. Last year, the 40-year-old righty split time with the Pirates and the Phillies, and made 52 combined appearances while going 1-6, posting a 4.65 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 50 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched.

Benoit will try to rebound this season while more than likely doing some middle relief work for the Nationals in order to complement closer Sean Doolittle and setup man Ryan Madson. In addition to Benoit, the Nationals have Brandon Kintzler, Erick Fedde, A.J. Cole, Shawn Kelley, Koda Glover, Enny Romero, Sammy Solis and Matt Grace in the bullpen, which turned around after the club acquired Doolittle, Madson and Kintzler in trades last season. For his career, Benoit has a 3.83 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and 8.9 K/9 in 764 appearances.