Nationals, Ohlendorf agree on one-year deal

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, thus avoiding salary arbitration, the team announced on Monday night. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Ohlendorf is expected to be the long man out of the bullpen in 2014. This past season, Ohlendorf served as a starter and a reliever after being called up in June. After Ross Detwiler was put on the disabled list, Ohlendorf was put in the rotation. But by September, according to then-manager Davey Johnson, it appeared Ohlendorf ran out of gas after pitching five innings.

For the season, Ohlendorf was 4-1 with a 3.28 ERA in 16 games. His best outing came against the Mets on July 26.

In need of a starter for the second game of a doubleheader, the Nationals gave the ball to Ohlendorf and he was outstanding, pitching seven innings and allowing one run on six hits in a 2-1 victory. He ended up throwing 114 pitches but didn't get the decision.

With Ohlendorf signed, the Nationals have seven players -- Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond, Detwiler, Wilson Ramos, Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen and Jordan Zimmermann -- who are arbitration-eligible.