The Nationals cut their arbritration eligible signings in half yesterday as they signed relief pitcher Jon Rauch to a one year, $3.2 million deal. Rauch has been very good the last two seasons and his his 88 games in 2007 led the league. In 2006, he pitched in 85 games and that was second in the National League. His strikeout rate was down a touch last year but his walk rate was down as well and his 1.099 WHIP and 3.61 ERA probably made him the best pitcher on the team last year.
That leaves just Felipe Lopez as arbitration eligible players who have yet to sign. Lopez will probably demand a sizeable amount as a power hitting middle infielder and you’d hope they’d lock him up to a longer term deal.