In a rotation stocked with premiere arms like Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann, 27-year-old Ross Detwiler seems anonymous. Yet he is just a season removed from posting 3.40 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP to accompany a 10-8 record in 27 starts for the Washington Nationals in 2012 when the club reached the playoffs for the first time.
Detwiler avoided arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $3 million deal that includes a $50,000 incentive if he logs at least 180 innings.
Detwiler was plagued with back injuries for much of the 2013 campaign, when he posted a 2-7 record and a 4.04 ERA in 13 starts and 71.1 innings. He was touched for 92 hits and posted a gaudy 1.49 WHIP. Detwiler did recover enough to appear in the instructional league at the end of last season and reportedly had regained his health and his velocity.
With Washington’s offseason acquisition of Doug Fister, just one spot remains in the Nationals’ rotation. Detwiler will compete with 28-year-old right-hander Tanner Roark for the No. 5 spot. Roark was 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA in 14 games (five starts) with Washington in 2013.
