Tommy Milone returning to Nationals (updated)

A former Nationals pitcher is returning to D.C.

The Nats have signed left-hander Tommy Milone to a minor league contract, an industry source has confirmed. He will receive an invitation to major league spring training.

Milone, 30, was drafted by the Nats in the 10th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Southern California and made his major league debut with the club in 2011, going 1-0 with a 3.81 ERA in five September starts and homering in his major league debut on Sept. 3 against the Mets.

That winter, he was dealt to the A's along with right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock and catcher Derek Norris in the trade that brought lefty Gio Gonzalez to Washington.

Since then, Milone has also pitched for the Twins, Brewers and Mets. In 146 major league games, including 126 starts, the soft-tossing southpaw is 45-36 with a 4.37 ERA.

Milone split last season between the Brewers and Mets. He was 1-0 with a 6.43 ERA in six games (three starts) for Milwaukee and 0-3 with an 8.56 ERA in 11 games (five starts) with New York.

The Nationals need to bolster their major league-ready pitching depth, and Milone could compete with Cole and rookie Erick Fedde for the fifth spot in the rotation. More likely, he could function as a long reliever/swingman and insurance policy at Triple-A Syracuse.

Ironically, three of the four players shipped to the A's six winters ago have returned to the Nationals. Cole was reacquired as part of the three-team trade that sent Michael Morse to the Mariners in January 2013 and Norris was reacquired from the Padres in a December 2016 trade. Norris went to spring training with the Nationals in 2017, but was released on March 15 and later signed with the Rays.

Milone will earn $1.2 million in the majors with an additional $1 million possible in incentives, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish first reported that Milone was returning to the Nationals.

In addition to Milone, the Nationals have also re-signed left-hander Tim Collins, who pitched at three levels of their organization last summer while rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery. He gets a another minor league deal with an invitation to major league camp.

Collins, 28, was 1-2 with a 7.79 ERA in 18 games, including two starts) for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals, low Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. Before the Tommy John procedures in March 2015 and March 16 (after the graft on the original surgery failed), Collins was an effective bullpen piece for the Royals, going 12-17 with a 3.54 ERA in 228 games between 2011-14.