The Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent reliever Casey Janssen, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The deal is said to be worth $5 million and includes a mutual option for 2016.
The 34-year-old Janssen had spent his entire eight-year career with the Toronto Blue Jays, serving as the tema's closer for much of the 2012 through 2014 seasons. He has 90 career saves with a 3.52 ERA and 3.74 FIP, though his performance waned in 2014, as he posted a 3.94 ERA and 4.14 FIP with a diminished strikeout rate and career-low average fastball velocity. He also blew five of thirty save opportunities.
Janssen will provide competition for Drew Storen in the race to win the Nationals' closer role vacated by Rafael Soriano, whose option the Nationals declined earlier this winter. The signing also helps offset the hole created by the recent trade of Tyler Clippard to the Oakland Athletics.