Washington Nationals Sign Veteran RHP Jeremy Accardo To A Minor League Deal With An Invite To Spring Training

The Washington Nationals announced this afternoon that they'd signed veteran catcher Chris Snyder to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training, giving them some depth in the catching corps should Wilson Ramos not be 100% at the start of the year following surgery to repair a torn meniscus and ACL in his right knee. Just a few hours later, the Nationals announced another minor league deal and invite, this time with a veteran pitcher:

Nationals have agreed to terms with RHP Jeremy Accardo on a minor league contract with invite to Major League Spring Training. #Nationals

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) February 5, 2013

Accardo, a 31-year-old, eight-year major league veteran, pitched for the Cleveland Indians and Oakland A's in 2012, posting a combined 4.82 ERA with a 3.87 FIP, 16 walks (3.86 BB/9) and 29 Ks (6.99 K/9) in 27 games and 37.1 IP over which he was worth +0.1 fWAR. Over the course of his career, the right-hander has a 4.00 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 3.51 BB/9 and 6.99 K/9. After the 2012 campaign ended, Accardo cleared waivers and became a free agent rather than accepting an assignment to Oakland's Triple-A affiliate.

The reliever's best year in the majors came in 2007 with the Blue Jays when he was (4-4) with a 2.14 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 24 BB (3.21 BB/9) and 57 Ks (7.62 K/9) in 64 games and 67.1 IP in which he was worth +1.5 fWAR. Accardo made 31 appearances with the Baltimore Orioles in 2011, posting a 5.73 ERA over 37.2 IP. The right-hander who debuted in the majors with the San Francisco Giants in 2005 after signing as an amateur free agent in 2003, turned 31 this past December, after finishing his eighth major league season.

The Nationals have reportedly been interested in adding a left-handed reliever all winter, though manager Davey Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo both said they're comfortable going with the right-handers they have against left-handed hitters. Accardo gives the Nationals another right-handed option, though the possibility of him finding a spot in the Nats' right-hand heavy pen would have to be considered a long shot.