Brad Lidge will again be pitching for an NL East team in 2012 but it won't be for Philadelphia.
The Phillies' former closer signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals on Thursday. The contract pays him $1 million, plus incentives, a major league source told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
Lidge will join the Nats' setup crew led by Tyler Clippard in front of closer Drew Storen, who saved 43 games for Washington last season.
Lidge went 0-2 with one save and a 1.40 ERA in 25 appearances for the Phillies in 2011, setting up games for Ryan Madson, who signed with the Cincinnati Reds this offseason. In four seasons with Philadelphia, Lidge was 3-11 with 100 saves and a 3.73 ERA. He was 1-1 with 12 saves in 12 opportunities and a 1.77 ERA in the postseason.
Lidge was 48-for-48 in save chances, including the postseason, in helping the Phillies win the 2008 World Series.
The two-time All-Star has closed for the Phillies and Houston Astros during his 10-year major league career, going 26-31 with 233 saves and a 3.44 ERA in 592 appearances overall.
Information from ESPN.com's Jayson Stark and The Associated Press was used in this report.