Nationals, Stammen Agree To Two-Year Deal

112:37pm: It's a $2.25MM deal, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter).

11:42am: The Nationals agreed to a two-year deal with reliever Craig Stammen, avoiding arbitration. Stammen's agency, Paragon Sports International, announced the deal on Twitter.

The deal buys out two of Stammen's four seasons as an arbitration eligible player. The right-hander had been first time eligible as a super two player this winter. MLBTR had projected a $900K salary for Stammen this winter.

Odds & Ends: Wolf, Stammen, Lackey

Post-Winter Meetings links for Thursday...

• ESPN's Keith Law calls the Astros' signing of Brandon Lyon "hobbling," but likes the Rays impending acquisition of Rafael Soriano.  He says the Soriano situation shows that if a team has a borderline call with a Type A free agent, they should offer arbitration.
• ESPN's Buster Olney says Randy Wolf would've re-signed with the Dodgers for a two-year deal in the $14-16MM range.
• Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says the Blue Jays talked to the Nationals about pitcher Craig Stammen but "he does not appear to be available."
• The Cardinals touched base with Scott Boras before leaving Indianapolis, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  The Cards still haven't made an offer to Matt Holliday.
• ESPN's Mike Salk heard that John Lackey is the Mariners' top priority.
• The Hanshin Tigers signed reliever Randy Messenger for about $600K, says NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman.  Messenger will replace Scott Atchison, who signed with the Red Sox.
• The Big Lead did a Q&A with new Yankee Curtis Granderson.

Twitter Rumors: Lyon, Holliday, Counsell

Looking for more rumblings and analysis? These tidbits are all 140 characters or less...

• The Rangers are talking to Jason Kendall, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse. The Royals have made the veteran backstop a two-year offer.
• Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Brandon Lyon is asking for $9MM over two years. Speaking of Lyon, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com says the Phillies are pursuing him and Fernando Rodney with equal interest.
• MLB.com's Bill Ladson reports that the Blue Jays expressed interest in Craig Stammen. However, the Nats aren't likely to trade him.
• Yahoo's Steve Henson hears that the Yankees will be strong players for Matt Holliday.
• The Brewers still have interest in Craig Counsell, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the two sides met and continue to talk. He expects them to reach a deal.
• The Indians have no money to spend, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.
• Ruddy Lugo signed a minor league deal with the Tigers, according to Jorge Arangure Jr. of ESPN.com.
• Arangure's colleague, Jayson Stark, has a similar update. The Dodgers could soon sign Jay Gibbons to a minor league deal.
• Yankees GM Brian Cashman doesn't consider Aroldis Chapman an option for the team's rotation next year, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff. They'll still watch him throw in Houston, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.
• The Red Sox will be there too, according to Gordon Edes of ESPN.
• MLB.com's Corey Brock reports that the Padres are considering some options in the Rule 5 draft.
• ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says the Royals inquired on Brett Gardner after the Yankees acquired Curtis Granderson.  
• The Phillies asked Cliff Lee's agent to fly to Indianapolis this week to discuss an extension, according to Scott Lauber of the Journal News.
• You can expect the D'Backs to pursue Bob Howry, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.