Rafael Soriano lands in Washington

Free Agent closer Rafael Soriano and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a two-year contract, worth $28 million. The deal includes a $14 million vesting option for the 2015 season, that's if Soriano reaches 120 games pitched between the 2013 season and the 2014 season. Soriano has spent eleven seasons in the MLB, starting out with the Seattle Mariners (who signed him as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic back in 1996). He later wound play for the Atlanta Braves from 2007-2009, Tampa Bay Rays in 2010, and the New York Yankees in 2011 and 2012 (he opted out of his final year with the Yankees, which made him a free agent). While with the Rays in 2010, Soriano was a closer full-time. He would finish the season with an era of 1.73 and 45 saves, while pitching 62.1 innings. Soriano also made the 2010 All-Star game for his first time in his career, was the leader in saves for the American League, and won the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award in 2010 (that award is given out to the best two closers in both the National League and the American League).

Starting off the 2012 season for the Yankees Soriano was a setup man for Yankees future Hall Of Fame closer Mariano Rivera (Rivera ended up injuring himself while taking flying balls in Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri; which belong to the Royals). Rivera would later be done for the season after getting hurt. At first the Yankees tried to use David Robertson as closer, but he hurt himself just after closing two games for the Yankees. So, the Yankees turned to Soriano to be their closer. When he become closer he first went 12 for 12 in save opportunities. Soriano would finish 2012 with a 2-1 record, with an era of 2.26, 42 saves in 46 save opportunities, while pitching 67.2 innings.

Soriano should help out the Nationals bullpen a lot, and improve their bullpen even though the Nationals already have Drew Storen (2.37 era with 4 saves in 2012) and Tyler Clippard 3.72 era with 32 saves in 2012). Soriano gives a Nationals tougher bullpen and should be able to help them repeat as NL East Champions. So far for his career Soriano has a career record of 15 wins and 24 losses, an era of 2.78, 132 saves, 527 strikeouts, and 160 walks. He's pitched 502 innings for his career in 453 games.