The Washington Nationals added some depth to their starting rotation today as they’ve agreed to terms with 15-year MLB veteran Bronson Arroyo.
Arroyo signed a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The deal is worth $2 million, but can jump all the way up to $8 million if he makes 32 starts for the club.
The 38-year-old is attempting to make his return to the mound following Tommy John surgery in 2014.
Arroyo was at his peak while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. The pitcher compiled a 105-94 record with a 4.05 ERA in 265 career starts with the team.
While with the Diamondbacks, Arroyo tore the UCL in his elbow 14 starts into the 2014 season. He was 7-4 with a 4.08 ERA at the time of the injury.
Arroyo was drawing interest from a number of teams, including the Reds, who worked him out last Monday. “I wanted to give the Reds every opportunity to keep me,” Arroyo told MLB.com. “Bryan Price has told me he’d love to have me in their locker room. I think it benefits both sides. It’s an opportunity for me to come into a less-stressed situation after a surgery and help young guys on the staff. If we can get something that’s in the ballpark [financially], I’d be happy.”
This move reunites Arroyo with former manager Dusty Baker (who he played for from 08′-13′). He would potentially join a crowded Nationals rotation that already includes Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Joe Ross, and Tanner Roark.
