Rafael Soriano and Nationals agree to $28M deal

Right-handed relief pitcher Rafael Soriano has agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Washington Nationals, according to CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman.

The deal, which was first reported by Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, includes a $14 million option that will vest if Soriano finishes 120 games in two years

Soriano, who turned 33 in December, would join a Nationals bullpen that already includes Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard. Both of those right-handers closed games for the NL East champions 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.

Washington will lose its first-round draft pick in this year's amateur draft, while the Yankees will gain an extra pick after the first round as compensation for losing Soriano.

He signed his old contract with the Yankees after saving a career-high 45 games for Tampa Bay in 2010. Soriano began his tenure in New York as a setup man, and ended up getting the bulk of his work in the seventh inning in 2011. But he wound up taking over as the closer after Rivera was hurt.

Notes: The Nationals announced they agreed to terms with LHPs Fernando Abad, Bill Bray and Brandon Mann, RHP Ross Ohlendorf and INF on minor league contracts with invitations to spring training. ... Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training in Viera, Fla., by Feb. 12. Position players report Feb. 15. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 17.