Sources: Nats sign veteran reliever Blanton for $4 million

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have signed veteran reliever Joe Blanton to a one-year, major-league deal, according to a club source, adding some much-needed right-handed depth to their bullpen.

Blanton has arrived in West Palm Beach and could be in uniform as soon as Wednesday. His deal, according to a source familiar with the terms, guarantees him $4 million this season, with up to $1 million in incentives.

Blanton's signing is pending a physical examination. The Nationals also will need to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for him.

Blanton-Throws-Dodgers-Sidebar.jpgThe 36-year-old right-hander was a stalwart in the Dodgers bullpen last season, going 7-2 with a 2.48 ERA in 75 appearances totaling 80 innings (sixth-most among all major league relievers). He allowed only 6.2 hits per nine innings while striking out 80 batters.

Despite his performance with Los Angeles, Blanton curiously remained unemployed into the final days of February. His 4.35 ERA in 12 big-league seasons, the vast majority of them as a back-end starter with the Athletics and Phillies, and his lack of experience as a late-inning reliever may have scared teams off.

But the Nationals swooped in and grabbed Blanton at an affordable price, addressing one of their few remaining roster needs. No, they still don't have a proven closer, but they have significantly bolstered their right-handed bullpen depth, with Blanton likely to serve as a setup man for either Shawn Kelley or Blake Treinen.

Those three right-handers could join rookie flamethrower Koda Glover, left-handers Sammy Solis, Oliver Pérez and Enny Romero, plus potential long reliever Vance Worley in comprising the Nationals' opening day bullpen. Veteran Joe Nathan, attempting to come back at 42 from his second Tommy John surgery, is another candidate.

After spending most of their winter pursuing (but failing to land) closers like Mark Melancon, Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman, Wade Davis and Greg Holland, the Nationals now appear willing to open the season with one of their in-house options pitching the ninth inning.

Kelley and Treinen are the most plausible choices, though Nathan (who has 377 career saves but has pitched only 6 2/3 innings the last two seasons combined) has impressed early in camp and could force his way into the discussion as well.

The Washington Post first reported the Blanton signing.

Manfred on the new ballpark and pace-of-play rule ...
Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Bea...