Nats sign Desmond to two-year deal, Ramos and Blevins to one-year deals

The Nationals have agreed to terms with shortstop Ian Desmond on a two-year, $17.5 million deal, according to a source familiar with the contract, which buys out Desmond's last two years of arbitration. The deal is very similar to the one agreed to earlier today by Jordan Zimmermann. Both players now have set salaries for 2014 and 2015, and the Nats still hope to finalize long-term deals with Zimmermann and Desmond, but both are still free agents after the 2015 campaign. Desmond will make $6.5 million in 2014 and $11 million in 2015, per the source. The Nats also agreed to terms with catcher Wilson Ramos and left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins on one-year deals, avoiding arbitration. Ramos will make $2.095 million in 2014 with a chance to make slightly more than $100,000 in incentives, according to a source. The 1 p.m. deadline has now come and gone, meaning that teams and the remaining arbitration-eligible players must formally exchange salary figures. The Nats still have two arbitration-eligible players remaining: Tyler Clippard and Doug Fister. Desmond won his second straight Silver Slugger in 2013, hitting .280/.331/.453 with 20 homers, 80 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. With that second straight strong season, Desmond (who made $3.8 million last season) has become included in conversations about the best shortstops in the league. Ramos spent two stints on the disabled list with hamstring injuries last season, but when he was healthy, he posted strong numbers. He hit .272/.307/.470 with 16 homers and 59 RBIs in 79 games. He made $501,250 last season. Blevins was acquired in December in a trade with the Athletics. The left-hander, who made $1.1 million last season, went 5-0 with a 3.15 ERA in 2013. He's set to be the Nats' top left-hander in the bullpen in 2014.