WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have agreed with left-handed reliever Sean Burnett on a $3.95 million, two-year contract with a mutual option for 2013, avoiding salary arbitration.
Burnett went 1-7 with three saves and a 2.l4 ERA in 73 appearances in 2010.
He was acquired in June 2009 from the Pirates in a trade that also brought center fielder Nyjer Morgan to Washington and sent reliever Joel Hanrahan and outfielder Lastings Milledge to Pittsburgh.
The 28-year-old Burnett is 9-16 with four saves and a 3.80 ERA in four major league seasons.
His deal pays $1.4 million next season and $2.3 million in 2012. There is a $3.5 million option for 2013 with a $250,000 buyout; if the club exercises the option and he declines, there’s no buyout.
