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Jerry Blevins wins arbitration case vs Nationals, will earn $2.4M in 2015

Washington Nationals' lefty Jerry Blevins and the Nats couldn't avoid arbitration, so the reliever and the defending NL East Champs went to a hearing and Blevins prevailed, becoming just the third National to win his arbitration case with the team.

By Patrick Reddington
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals acquired left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins last winter after the southpaw went (5-0) with a 3.15 ERA, a 3.88 FIP, 17 walks (2.55 BB/9) and 52 Ks (7.80 K/9) in 67 games and 60 innings pitched for the Oakland A's in a +0.3 fWAR campaign in his seventh major league season.

The Nats and Blevins avoided arbitration last winter by agreeing on a 1-year/$1.675M deal which gave the then-30-year-old lefty a raise from the $1.1M he made in his final year with the Athletics.

"When the lights are on and it's postseason and it really matters, that's where I like to shine and step up." -Jerry Blevins on finishing strong in his first season in D.C.

Blevins finished his first season in D.C. (2-3) with a 4.87 ERA, a 2.77 FIP, 23 walks (3.61 BB/9) and 66 Ks (10.36 K/9) in 64 games and 57 ⅓ IP over which he was worth a career-best +0.7 fWAR.

Blevins wrapped up his first run with the Nats by throwing 3 ⅓ scoreless innings in the NLDS matchup against the San Francisco Giants. He told reporters this winter that he was happy he was able to finish strong after struggling at times in his first run in the National League.

"It was great for me personally to show the fans and show the people that I can pitch effectively on a consistent basis," Blevins told reporters.

"When the lights are on and it's postseason and it really matters, that's where I like to shine and step up."

Blevins was the only arbitration-eligible National to go to arbitration this winter though he and the Nats were only $200,000 apart with Blevins asking for $2.4M and Washington countering with a $2.2M offer.

Washington Post reporter James Wagner reported this morning the Blevins came out on the winning end of his arbitration hearing with the Nationals:

Blevins was the first Nationals' player to go to arbitration with the team since John Lannan and the Nats went to a hearing in 2012 and the first to come out on the winning end of his case since right-hander Shawn Hill in 2009.

The Nationals are now 6-3 in arbitration cases since relocating to the nation's capital in 2005.

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