Nats sign pitcher Young to Minor League deal

The Nationals increased their crop of starting pitching depth Thursday, signing veteran right-hander Chris Young to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.

The 33-year-old made 20 starts for the Mets last season, going 4-9 with a 4.15 ERA, 80 strikeouts and 36 walks in 115 innings. He was coming off shoulder surgery that limited him to four big league outings in 2011.

Standing 6-foot-10, Young was an All-Star for the Padres in 2007, but has been slowed by injury problems, averaging 12 starts per year over that span. He owns a 53-43 record over nine big league seasons, with a 3.79 ERA and averages of 7.6 strikeouts and 3.5 walks per nine innings.