Avilan (elbow) re-signed Monday with the Nationals on a minor-league contract, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
Avilan's deal likely includes an invitation to big-league spring training, but he'll probably be in rehab mode throughout February and March while he recovers from the Tommy John procedure he required last April. The 32-year-old lefty should receive a clean bill of health at some point in the middle of the summer, but he'll likely need to first perform well at Triple-A Rochester before getting a look in the Washington bullpen. Over 458 career big-league appearances out of the bullpen, Avilan owns a 3.43 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 12.0 K-BB%.