Nationals avoided arbitration with LHP Ross Detwiler by agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract.

The left-hander can earn an additional $50,000 if he reaches 180 innings in 2014. Detwiler was limited to just 13 starts last season and will have to compete in spring training to keep his spot in the rotation.

Ross Detwiler (back) said he has felt "100 percent" since pitching in the instructional league in September.

Detwiler, who was limited to just 13 starts this season due to a back injury, added that he was clocked in the 94-96 mph range during his appearances. While the left-hander appears healthy, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated following the addition of Doug Fister that Detwiler will have to compete for a spot in the rotation. Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan, Nate Karns, and Sammy Solis will be among his competitors.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated Tuesday that Ross Detwiler is not assured of a rotation spot.

The Nationals already have Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, and Doug Fister in place for the first four spots, but we'll likely see a competition for the fifth spot during spring training. Rizzo mentioned Detwiler, Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan, Nate Karns, and Sammy Solis among the possibilities to round out the rotation.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated that Ross Detwiler could be used out of the bullpen in 2014.

In a chat with Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Rizzo said of Detwiler, "I think he could bolster our bullpen and give us some depth as a starter." The organization is very high on young arms Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan and Nathan Karns, and their emergence could push Detwiler out of a rotation spot.

Nationals activated LHP Ross Detwiler from the 60-day disabled list.

It's a standard procedural move to get the left-hander back on the Nationals' 40-man roster. Detwiler should be recovered from his back injury by next spring.

Ross Detwiler is not going to participate in winter ball.

Detwiler was limited to just 13 starts this season due to a back injury, but he was healthy enough to pitch in the instructional league at the end of the year. The hope is that he'll have a healthy offseason going into 2014. The 27-year-old is arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson suggested Wednesday that Ross Detwiler (back) is done for the year.

Detwiler is scheduled to pitch next Monday in an instructional league game and an official decision will be made shortly after that. The left-hander has been on the shelf since early July with a herniated disc.

Ross Detwiler (back) tossed another successful bullpen session on Saturday.

Nationals skipper Davey Johnson indicated that he'd throw one more bullpen session, then face live hitters before returning to the team. Detwiler has been shelved since early July due to a herniated disc in his back.

Ross Detwiler (back) threw a successful 30-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday afternoon.

Detwiler has to throw at least two more bullpen sessions and a simulated game before the Nationals will clear him to pitch in a major league game, so there's no guarantee that he'll make it back this season. He has been out since early July with a herniated disk.

Ross Detwiler (back) will throw off a mound this weekend for the first time since being shut down on July 4.

He has already been throwing long toss, and doing his typical routine in between starts. If he does make it back to the Nationals before the end of the season, it will be in a relief role as he won't be stretched out.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that Ross Detwiler (back) is expected to throw off the mound during the team's roadtrip.

Detwiler has been sidelined since July 6 with a herniated disc in his back. The Nationals aren't counting on him to return this season.

Ross Detwiler (back) has yet to throw off a mound.

When asked Tuesday whether Detwiler has a chance of returning this season, Nationals manager Davey Johnson responded "probably not." Detwiler has been on the shelf since July 6 with a herniated disc in his back.

Ross Detwiler (back) did some sprinting in the outfield prior to Tuesday's game.

Detwiler will not resume baseball activities for at least another week, but general manager Mike Rizzo said the lefty is "progressing well" and it still shooting to return later this season. "He's progressing well," Rizzo said. "Now he can ramp up a throwing program. It's a routine that we use whenever a pitcher gets shut down for that long."

Ross Detwiler (back) is reportedly "way ahead of schedule" in his recovery from a herniated disc in his lower back, and there's a chance that he could rejoin the Nationals before the end of the season.

Nats' manager Davy Johnson said Friday that Detwiler will still be shut down for the next few weeks before beginning a throwing program, but that he will not need additional clearance from a doctor before he starts to throw. A return before seasons-end, which once seemed like a long-shot, could now be a very real possibility.

Nationals transferred LHP Ross Detwiler from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Tanner Roark. Detwiler won't be eligible to return until September 4, though it's possible he could miss the rest of the season, anyway.

Ross Detwiler could miss the remainder of the season with a herniated disc in his lower back, according to Nationals manager Davey Johnson.

"We'll try to bring him back before the year is over to make sure he's healthy, to make sure nothing further has to be done with him," Johnson said. "That's the main thing, that he can be healthy once he gets the inflammation out of there. ... It's really going to be a big concern of our doctors seeing how he does when he does come back." The original diagnosis was that Detwiler would miss about a month with the injury, but the timetable is close enough that the Nationals are unsure if the lefty will make it back in time. Either way, his fantasy value this year is next to nothing. He should be ready to go by the start of the 2014 season regardless.

Ross Detwiler will miss the next month due to a disc issue that's led to a pinched nerve in his back.

Detwiler will receive an injection in hopes that it will speed the recovery process along. The left-hander has already missed a month of action due to the injury and now will be out until late August. Taylor Jordan will continue to occupy a spot in the Nationals' rotation.

Ross Detwiler will have his back examined by a specialist this week in Los Angeles.

Detwiler flew out Tuesday for the appointment. He was scratched from a bullpen session late last week after experiencing lingering discomfort in his lower back following a light game of catch. There is obviously no timetable for his return from the disabled list.

Ross Detwiler (back) had his bullpen session scratched on Friday.

Detwiler threw off flat ground Thursday and is still feeling discomfort in his lower back. It's not clear how long his latest setback will keep him sidelined, but he remains with out a timetable to be activated from the disabled list.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Tuesday that Ross Detwiler (back) is not expected to be ready to make a rehab start this week.

That means he won't be ready for the Nats' fifth game after the All-Star break as the team had hoped. Johnson said that he didn't think Detwiler had suffered a setback, but he's apparently just not coming along as fast as hoped. Taylor Jordan will remain in the rotation until Detwiler is ready.