In what seems like a low probability deal, the Washington Nationals signed Rafael Soriano to a two-year contract with an option for a third:

It happened again Tuesday when the Washington Nationals agreed to pay right-handed closer Rafael Soriano to a two-year, $28-million deal with a vesting $14-million option for a third season, according to Yahoo! Sports. Soriano will earn $7 million in both 2013 and 2014, with the remaining $14 million coming in deferred payments starting in 2018, according to ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden.

The deal is nothing short of ridiculous for Soriano only because it is so late in the offseason and most bullpens are solidified, but not because he isn’t a quality closer. He is, but because there were pretty much no other reported suitors, everyone figured Soriano would have to take a below-market deal.

The article goes on to say that Soriano will be the assumed closer due to the vesting option being based on games finished. The deal makes most sense if you look at Washington as trying to build a dynasty. They are four deep in the bullpen now with pitchers who strikeout tons of batters without walking many. In Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard and Soriano they have three pitchers who can close. If one of them goes down, they have more than enough arms to make up for the injury.

On top of that, they have a starting staff capable of going deep into games. Might we see a return to the days of yesteryear, and a nine-man pitching staff? They seem to have the arms to get that done.

On top of that, Washington is in the zone where every extra win is valuable. They aren’t a team trying to go from 80 to 82 wins, they are trying to stay in the mid to high 90s. While Denard Span gives them a better balanced offense, that’s not necessarily a much higher scoring offense. With this kind of pitching, however, the team won’t need to score many runs.