Joe Blanton, 36, is coming off one of his best seasons of his career with the Dodgers. Blanton finished the season 7-2 with a 2.48 era, 80 innings pitched in 75 appearances.
Blanton played a key role in reestablishing the back end of the bullpen for the Dodgers, leading the team with 28 holds. In the 2015 season without Blanton, the Dodgers bullpen ranked 19th in the league with a 3.91 bullpen era. Last season the bullpen finished 1st with a 3.35 era.
Blanton reportedly received a one-year, $4 million deal with the Nationals. The Dodgers were out of the Blanton sweepstakes when they signed Sergio Romo.