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Washington Nationals reportedly sign Daniel Hudson to 2-year/$11M deal, bringing reliever back to D.C.

So apparently Daniel Hudson is coming back to D.C. as well, joining a revamped bullpen that will also feature Will Harris, who signed a 3-year deal last week.

By Patrick Reddington
World Series - Washington Nationals v Houston Astros - Game Seven Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

So, apparently the Washington Nationals’ 3-year/$24M deal with Will Harris, which was officially announced last week, didn’t take them out of the running for free agent right-hander Daniel Hudson.

Hudson is reportedly returning to the nation’s capital on a 2-year/$11M contract after helping the club win its first World Series (2005-present) this past October.

ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan was the first to report this afternoon that the Nationals and the 32-year-old right-hander, who was acquired at the trade deadline last July, have a new deal to bring him back to D.C. for 2020-21.

Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo told reporters at the Winter Meetings last month that he had spoken with Hudson’s representatives this winter, and the work they did to scout him before the deadline deal last July made the process of evaluating him much easier as they pondered the possibility of bringing him back.

“I think we look at the way we scouted him prior to the trade deadline,” Rizzo explained, “... and what we saw once he was with us I think gives us more than a snapshot.

“I think it gives us a longer view with a wider lens of what he will project out to be in the future.”

Nationals add Starlin Castro on 2-year/$12M deal to play 2B:

Miami Marlins v Washington Nationals Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

LINK: Nationals add Starlin Castro to infield mix as they build for 2020

Hudson put up a 1.44 ERA, a 3.53 FIP, four walks, and 23 strikeouts in 24 games and 25 innings pitched for the Nationals in the regular season, and put up a 3.72 ERA, a 4.04 FIP, four walks, and 10 Ks over 9 2⁄3 IP in the postseason, recording the final outs in the Game 7 win in the World Series matchup with the Houston Astros.

Hudson will return to work at the back end of a Nationals’ bullpen that will likely feature a mix of Harris, Sean Doolittle, Tanner Rainey, Wander Suero, Hunter Strickland, Roenis Elías, and Kyle Finnegan, who signed a major league deal with the club earlier this winter.

Considering it was a clear weakness for the club in 2019, the focus on building a stronger relief corps for the defense of their World Series title isn’t surprising.

Are you surprised that Rizzo and Co. in the D.C. front office added Hudson even after the deal with Harris?

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