Report: Free agent reliever Shawn Kelley heading to Nationals

NASHVILLE - It's no secret the Nationals' main focus this offseason is fixing the bullpen issues that haunted them throughout last season, especially down the stretch as they lost hold of first place and quickly descended out of playoff contention.

'Whatever way we can improve the ballclub - whatever way we can improve the bullpen specifically - we'll certainly do," Rizzo said Monday afternoon at the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

According to a report early Tuesday morning from Jack Curry of the YES Network, free agent right-hander Shawn Kelley is headed to the Nationals.

Kelley posted a 2.45 ERA in 53 appearances with the Padres last season, fanning 63 with 15 walks in 51 1/3 innings. He missed three weeks late in the year with a strained right forearm, but returned Sept. 22, tossing five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts over his final five appearances.

Kelley, who turns 32 on April 26, has actually undergone two Tommy John surgeries. The first procedure was needed after he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in the first inning of his college debut at Austin Peay in 2003. Kelley's recovery was normal and the Mariners selected him in the 13^th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

Kelley made his big league debut in Seattle in 2009 but suffered another major elbow issue a year later which forced a second Tommy John surgery. He returned for 10 scoreless appearances at the end of 2011 and was solid the following season, compiling a 3.25 ERA in 44 1/3 innings for the Mariners. He pitched the next two years for the Yankees before a trade to the Padres in late 2012.

Over his seven years in the majors, Kelley has a 3.67 ERA with 323 strikeouts in 284 1/3 innings. Righties have hit .240 off Kelley for his career while lefties have batted .235.

The Nationals' bullpen overhaul began early in the offseason with right-hander Casey Janssen's 2016 option declined. Right-hander Craig Stammen was non-tendered and free agent lefty Matt Thornton will move on after the Nationals reportedly agreed to a two-year, $7 million deal with veteran left-hander Oliver Perez last week.

Rizzo missed out on the flashy free agent signing when the Orioles lured All-Star right-hander Darren O'Day back to Baltimore with a four-year, $31 million deal, which was officially agreed to on Monday evening.

The Nationals would prefer trading right-handers Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon after explosive endings to last season, although Rizzo indicated yesterday that both relievers could be back in 2016.

"We like the bullpen that we have," Rizzo said Monday night. "Last year, we had the sixth-best bullpen in the National League. It was better than league average. It didn't end well for us. They pitched poorly down the stretch. But there's good, talented players in there. We don't have to move anybody if we don't want to. There's no money constrictions on us. We're going to put the best bullpen that we can out there and the best 25-man roster that we can."