Nats reportedly leading race for Darren O'Day

Last winter, the Nationals outbid everyone, landing the majors' top free agent starting pitcher, Max Scherzer, with a blockbuster $210 million contract. A year later, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo apparently is nearing a deal with the top reliever on the market.

Multiple reports have the Nationals as the frontrunner to sign right-hander Darren O'Day. The submariner went 6-2 with a 1.50 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 65 1/3 innings in 68 appearances for the Orioles as their chief set-up man last season. Righties hit just .192 off O'Day, while lefties managed a .210 clip. The 33-year-old also earned six saves and his first All-Star appearance.

O'Day has reportedly narrowed his search down to the Orioles, Braves and Nationals. He apparently favors remaining on the East Coast as his wife, Elizabeth Prann, is a FOX News reporter based out of the D.C. bureau. He is expected to command a four-year deal in the neighborhood of $32-$34 million.

Roch Kubatko, my colleague on MASNSports.com, reports that some inside the Orioles organization even believe the Nationals are the favorites to sign O'Day. O'Day has been stellar out of the bullpen for the Orioles, going 23-8 with a 1.92 ERA over four seasons in Baltimore. Over his eight-year career that's also included stops with the Angels, Mets and Rangers, O'Day is 31-13 with a 2.31 ERA.

Rizzo is aggressively attempting to solve the dilemma facing the backend of the Nationals bullpen. Right-handers Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen will likely be moved, maybe as soon as next week during the Winter Meetings. But regardless of the outcome with those two relievers, O'Day would obviously be a key acquisition to a bullpen that struggled down the stretch last season.