Report: Nationals pursuing free agent starter Mike Leake (offer extended)

NASHVILLE - The Nationals have been preparing for the departures of veteran free agent right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister from their starting rotation. General manager Mike Rizzo has said in recent weeks that he was content in plugging right-handers Joe Ross and Tanner Roark into the starting five joining fellow righties Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg along with left-hander Gio Gonzalez.

But Rizzo always is intrigued by adding strong starting pitching, even when it may not seem like a glaring need (see Scherzer's $210 million deal in January). The latest rumor dancing through the halls of the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center has the Nationals making a push for free agent right-hander Mike Leake, according to FOXSports.com.

Leake, who turned 28 on Nov. 12, went 11-10 with a 3.70 ERA in 30 starts for the Reds and Giants last season. Cincinnati traded Leake to San Francisco at July's deadline. He doesn't have a qualifying offer, making signing him a bit more attractive without the need to return draft pick compensation.

The Reds selected Leake with the eighth overall pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University. Leake shot straight to the majors, making his debut at the start of the 2010 season for Cincinnati with new Nats skipper Dusty Baker as his manager. Leake went 42-29 with a 3.99 ERA and 1.13 WHIP during his four years pitching in Baker's rotation.

Over his six-year career, Leake is 64-52 with a 3.88 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 730 strikeouts in 1,083 2/3 innings. He made one postseason start, losing to the Giants in Game 4 of the 2012 National League Division Series.

Leake is reportedly seeking a five-year deal in the neighborhood of $75-80 million, according to ESPN.com. By comparison, Zimmermann received a five-year, $110 million contract from the Tigers last week. The Diamondbacks seemed to be closing on Leake before they landed right-hander Shelby Miller in a blockbuster deal with the Braves on Tuesday night. The Cardinals and Giants are also reportedly vying for Leake.

Signing Leake could present an interesting dynamic in the Nationals clubhouse, particularly with Strasburg. The two starting pitchers played on the same San Diego traveling team as 11-year-olds. In a June 2010 USA Today column, Leake said Strasburg was "overweight, pouty and used to cry. He did a complete 180." Strasburg was reportedly "fuming" in response, according to a story which appeared a month later in The Washington Post.

Rizzo has remained mysterious with his approach to the Winter Meetings.

"We're not coming here looking for a front-line starting pitcher," he said Monday. "But when opportunities arise, you never, never know what we're going to do."

Stay tuned.

CBSsports.com reports the Phillies are showing interest in Fister, looking to add a veteran presence to their rotation.

Update: CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman reports the Nationals have made Leake an offer and are pushing for a deal.