The Nationals signed reliever Chad Durbin to a minor league deal, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Last year Durbin held out until March 1st to score a Major League deal with the Indians; this year he has time to plan before pitchers and catchers report.
Durbin, 34, posted a 5.53 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 1.58 HR/9, and 40.2% groundball rate in 68 1/3 innings for the Tribe last year. Aside from more of his flyballs leaving the yard and more of his batted balls dropping in for hits, Durbin's numbers weren't much different from when he posted a 3.80 ERA in 2010 with the Phillies.
Durbin joins non-roster invitees Jeff Fulchino and Waldis Joaquin in a spring battle for a low-leverage gig in the Nationals' bullpen.
Haha doesnt say anything about an invite to spring training, I wonder if it was omitted in the post or was not offered.
didn’t he sign a minor league deal with the Marlins in January?
The deal with the Marlins fell through according to John C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel
I liked Durbin this year in Cleveland but he really doesn’t fit anymore in a bullpen that was rapidly outpacing him. Wish him success in Washington though.
2012 Washington Nationals = 2008 Philadelphia Phillies (roster-wise)… Eric Bruntlett is next!