Nats reach two-year deal with Zimmermann, one-year deal with Storen

The Nationals have agreed to a two-year, $24 million deal with right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, a source confirmed late this morning. The deal does not extend the length that the Nationals control Zimmermann, but it effectively buys out Zimmermann's final two years of arbitration and provides him a set salary through the 2015 season. Zimmermann will make $7.5 million in 2014 and $16.5 million in 2015, the source confirmed. The New York Post was first to report the Nats and Zimmermann reaching terms on the two-year deal. In addition, the Nats also reached terms with right-handed reliever Drew Storen on a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration. Per the New York Post, Storen will make $3.45 million in 2014 with incentives that could pay him another $1 million in bonuses for games finished. Zimmermann was the Nationals' most consistent starter in 2013, going 19-9 with a 3.25 ERA. He made $5.35 million last season, and while the Nationals still would like to lock him up to a long-term deal, this two-year contract at least allows them to avoid the arbitration process this year as well as next year, if they're unable to finalize a new deal. Storen went 4-2 with a 4.52 ERA during a rocky 2013 season that saw him get demoted to Triple-A Syracuse after a rough stretch in July. The right-hander, who saved 43 games for the Nats in 2011, finished the season strong, however, posting a 1.40 ERA over his final 21 big league apperances. Storen gets a raise over the $2.5 million he made last season. The Nats now have five arbitration-eligible players left without contracts at this point: Jerry Blevins, Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond, Doug Fister and Wilson Ramos.