Nationals agree to terms with right-hander Brandon Kintzler

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a two-year contract that includes a club/player option in the second year with right-handed pitcher Brandon Kintzler on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kintzler, 33, returns to the Nationals after serving as one of the key members of Washington's bullpen down the stretch in 2017. Acquired from Minnesota moments before the non-waiver trade deadline, Kintzler, went 2-1 with one save, 10 holds and a 3.46 ERA in 27 games with the Nationals. In a career-high 72 games between Minnesota and Washington, he recorded 29 saves and a 3.03 ERA while allowing just five home runs. His 29 saves in 2017 were a career-high and ranked 12th in all of Major League Baseball. An American League All-Star in 2017, Kintzler did not allow a run in any of his first seven appearances out of Washington's bullpen and posted scoreless appearances in 12 of his final 14 outings. All told, he offered scoreless relief in 22 of his 27 appearances with the Nationals. Kintzler made his first career Postseason appearance in 2017, allowing just one hit in 3.1 innings pitched across three National League Division Series games. He did not allow either of his two inherited runners to score. A veteran of eight Major League seasons, Kintzler is 14-14 with 46 saves and a 3.26 ERA in 298 career games with Milwaukee (172 G), Minnesota (99 G) and Washington (27 G). Originally a 40th-round selection of the San Diego Padres in the 2004 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Kintzler pitched two seasons (2007-08) with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent Northern League and a half season (2009) with the St. Paul Saints of the independent American Association, before joining the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010. With the signing of Kintzler, the Nationals now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.