Adding some veteran organizational depth, the Nationals have signed left-hander Sean Burnett and outfielder Reed Johnson to minor-league contracts with invitations to spring training.
Burnett is coming back from his second Tommy John elbow surgery, but was a very good setup man for the Nationals from 2009-2012 before signing with the Angels as a free agent. He’s pitched a grand total of 10 innings in the past three seasons, so it’s impossible to know what the 33-year-old has left in the tank.
Johnson made the Nationals out of spring training this year, but then suffered a foot injury that required surgery and was out until September. He was once a very effective fourth outfielder capable of platooning against left-handed pitching, but at age 39 he no longer looks like an MLB-caliber player.
