Posted: 2:10 PM Jan 17, 2013 Reporter: Associated Press
Thursday January 17, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The NL East champion Washington Nationals have signed right-handed reliever Rafael Soriano to a $28 million, two-year contract that includes $14 million in deferred money.
The Nationals are holding a news conference Thursday to announce the addition of Soriano.
Soriano, who is 33, joins a Nationals bullpen that already includes righties Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard. Both closed games for Washington last season.
A one-time All-Star, Soriano had 42 saves and a 2.26 ERA for the AL East champion New York Yankees last year while filling in for injured closer Mariano Rivera, who plans to return from a knee injury in 2013.
Soriano decided in October to decline a $14 million option for 2013, taking a $1.5 million buyout from the Yankees and entering free agency instead.