Nats sign Ohlendorf to one-year deal, tender eight players contracts (updated)

The Nationals announced tonight that they've agreed to terms with right-hander Ross Ohlendorf on a one-year contract, avoiding arbitration, and have tendered contracts to all eight of their remaining arbitration-eligible players. Ohlendorf posted a 3.28 ERA in 60 1/3 innings last season, pitching both out of the bullpen and in a starting role. He will serve as valuable rotation depth and, in theory, could compete for the fifth spot in the Nationals rotation, if Ross Detwiler isn't healthy in spring or fails to impress. Teams had until 11:59 p.m. tonight to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players, and Ohlendorf was the only real question mark among the nine Nats up for arbitration this offseason. That group of nine includes right-hander Doug Fister, who was acquired tonight in a trade with the Tigers and will see his 2014 salary rise from the $4 million he made in 2013. The list of arbitration-eligible players tendered contracts by the Nats tonight includes Fister, Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond, Detwiler, Wilson Ramos, Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen and Jordan Zimmermann. How this works from here for those players is that the Nats and each player's representative must exchange salary figures by Jan. 17. The two sides then negotiate from there and try and find some middle ground, and if they can't reach a deal by the Feb. 1 deadline, they'll go to arbitration. Update: Ohlendorf will make $1.25 million guaranteed, plus incentives, according to FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.