The Washington Nationals officially signed right-handed reliever Casey Janssen to a one-year contract Monday, with a mutual option for 2016.
It was reported last week that the Nationals reached an agreement on a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Janssen, the former Toronto Blue Jays closer. The deal includes a mutual option for $7 million in 2016 with a buyout of $1.5 million, according to reports.
Janssen, 33, joins the Nationals after 10 years in the Blue Jays’ organization, including five consecutive major league seasons with an ERA of 3.95 or lower.
Janssen is likely to provide late-inning relief help in front of closer Drew Storen. The Washington bullpen lost Ross Detwiler, Rafael Soriano and Tyler Clippard to other teams during the winter.
—The San Francisco Giants avoided arbitration with first baseman Brandon Belt after they agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract Monday.
CBSSports.com reported that Belt originally filed for $4.5 million in arbitration, while the Giants countered with $3 million.
In 61 games last year, Belt hit .243 with 12 home runs and 27 RBIs.
—New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $4.2 million salary for 2015, according to reports Monday.
CBSSports.com reported that Duda filed for $4.7 million and the Mets offered $3.75 million.
Duda, 28, played in a career-high 153 games in 2014, batting .253 with 27 doubles, 30 home runs, 74 runs and 92 RBIs.
—The Cincinnati Reds have signed veteran left-hander Paul Maholm to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training.
Maholm, 32, had a rough 2014 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was just 1-5 with a 4.84 ERA in 30 games, including eight starts, and then suffered a torn ACL in his right knee on Aug. 1.
In his 10-year career, including seven in Pittsburgh, he is 77-100 with a 4.30 ERA. He also has pitched for the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves.
The Reds have two open spots in their rotation after trading Mat Latos to Miami and Alfredo Simon to Detroit.
—The Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly have signed veteran catch Gerald Laird to a minor-league deal.
The one-year deal includes an invitation to spring training, according to ESPN.com.
The Diamondbacks have an open competition at catcher after trading Miguel Montero this offseason. Laird, 35, is expected to compete for a roster spot with Tuffy Gosewisch and Oscar Hernandez.
Laird has hit .244 in 12 seasons with the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. He hit .204 in 53 games with Atlanta last season.
— Ricardo Cubillan, a shortstop in the Boston Red Sox organization, was suspended for 76 games and three other minor-leaguers were penalized 50 games Monday for positive drug tests, the baseball commissioner’s office announced.
The 50-game suspensions went to San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Ethan Miller and free-agent infielders Wilson Betemit and Tanner Norton.
MLB has suspended 30 minor-leaguers this year, including 17 in the past week or so.