Major League Baseball roundup

[May 15, 2017]  (The Sports Xchange) - The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Bryce Harper, the team announced Saturday.

While details of the contract were not disclosed by the Nationals, multiple media outlets reported that Harper will earn $21.625 million next season in 2018, keeping him from becoming eligible for salary arbitration.

That salary would be a record for an arbitration-eligible player, topping the $19.75 million deal that current Boston left-hander David Price agreed to while with Detroit in 2015.

Washington general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters that the deal involves a "shared risk" for both sides, but offers the club cost assurances and provides Harper with the security to remain "comfortable" all year without focusing on a new contract.

"It's huge," Harper acknowledged. "We're able to go into the offseason and worry about other things."

Harper, who remains eligible for free agency after the 2018 season, is making $13.625 million this year. Along with the hefty raise, he will receive a $1-million bonus if he wins the National League MVP Award in 2018.

The 24-year-old Harper was a unanimous winner of the NL MVP Award in 2015 and is off to a torrid start this season, entering Saturday batting .372 -- second in baseball to teammate Ryan Zimmerman -- with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs.

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The Seattle Mariners announced that right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, who joined three other starting pitchers on the team's disabled list, is expected to miss four to six weeks because of inflammation in his right shoulder.

Iwakuma, 36, was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday and underwent testing Friday.

Iwakuma is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in six starts in his sixth season with the Mariners.

Iwakuma joins Felix Hernandez (shoulder), Drew Smyly (flexor tendon) and James Paxton (forearm strain) on the DL, leaving right-hander Yovani Gallardo as the only starter from the Opening Day rotation.

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Mariners right-hander Ryan Weber left the game against the Toronto Blue Jays because of a shoulder injury with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning on Saturday afternoon.

During the at-bat to Toronto shortstop Ryan Goins, Weber shook his arm a few times.

When visited at the mound by manager Scott Servais and a trainer, Weber grabbed his arm indicating there was a problem. He allowed three hits and one run on Saturday.

(Editing by Andrew Both)

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