WASHINGTON – The Washington Nationals reached an agreement with pitcher Stephen Strasburg on a contract to avoid an arbitration hearing, according to multiple reports and The Washington Post.

Strasburg will earn $3.975 million on his one-year deal, plus a possible $125,000 performance bonuses, which means he could top out at $4.1 million, according to reports.

He made $3.9 million last season. His final annual salary dictated by the contract he signed in 2009 after the Nationals chose him with the first overall pick.

Many arbitration cases can linger. Last year, Jordan Zimmermann did not agree to a contract until after the start of spring training.

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