The Pittsburgh Pirates signed lefty reliever Doug Slaten to a minor league deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Free-agent LH reliever Doug Slaten agrees to minor-league deal with #Pirates. #MLB

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 11, 2012

Slaten, limited most of the season due to an elbow injury, threw 16 1/3 innings for the Washington Nationals this year. He also tossed 10 1/3 innings for the club’s minor league affiliates. After earning $695K in 2011, Slaten was non-tendered by the Nationals last month.

In 2010, Slaten posted a 3.10 ERA in 49 appearances with the Nationals.