Rauch Avoids Arb.

The Nats and Jon Rauch agreed to a two-year deal worth $3.2 million today. There is also a club option for 2010 in there. I think this is a very good deal. Rauch has proved for the last two years that he is a reliable pitcher in the late innings of a ballgame. He will receive $1 million this year and $2.2 mil in '09. The option is worth $2.9 million, and must be exercised within five days of the end of the 2008 World Series. So we'll know pretty soon just how long the deal will be. He led the Nats last year with eight victories. Wow. Nice job by the Nats and Rauch to avoid going to arbitration. This was Rauch's first year that he was eligible for arb, so assuming the option is exercised, the deal won't buy out any Free Agency.