Nationals and RHP Tyler Clippard avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.875 million contract. Clippard asked for $6.35 million and was offered $4.45 million from the Nationals when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. The two sides settled about $475,000 north of the midway point. Clippard, 28, will serve as a setup man this year in Washington.