Nationals avoided arbitration with SS Ian Desmond by agreeing to a one-year, $3.8 million contract. It's a healthy raise for Desmond, who was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The bump in pay is well earned, though, after the 27-year-old experienced a breakout year in 2012, batting .292/.335/.511 with 25 homers and 21 steals. He'll be the everyday shortstop again this season.