Rafael Soriano is reportedly heading to the Nationals. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Former New York Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Washington Nationals, according to tweets Tuesday afternoon from Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports.  The deal includes a $14 million option that vests for 2015 if he plays 120 games this upcoming season.

Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post had reported on Tuesday afternoon that Nationals owner Ted Lerner was heavily involved in bringing the pitcher to Washington. The Yankees had offered him a one-year qualifying offer, which means that New York now gets Washington’s first-round pick, No. 31 overall, and the bonus pool money associated with the selection.

Soriano, 33, joins a bullpen that already includes Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard after stepping in for Mariano Rivera last season when he injured his knee. As Rivera’s replacement, he recorded 42 games with an ERA of 2.26. Soriano has a career 2.78 ERA with 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

Source: Rafael Soriano agrees to two-year, $28M deal with Nationals. Deal contains vesting option for third year. Story coming on Y! Sports.—
Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 15, 2013

Rafael Soriano's $14 million option will vest with 120 games finished over the next two seasons.—
Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 15, 2013

Rafael Soriano is seeking a four-year, $60 million deal. (Elsa, Getty Images)

Rafael Soriano made headlines today when he opted out of the final year of his contract with the New York Yankees – one that was due to pay him $14 million over the course of the 2013 season.

Now, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports on one of the likely reasons – Soriano’s agent Scott Boras believes the reliever can fetch a four-year contract worth $60 million on the free agent market.

The Yankees are unlikely to match any offer in that range, instead preferring to offer Soriano a two year deal with Mariano Rivera rumored to be mulling retirement.

Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano will test the free agent market after opting out of his contract. (Elsa/Getty Images)

New York Yankees relief pitcher Rafael Soriano opted out of his contract making him a free-agent, the team announced Wednesday.

Soriano’s option is worth $14 million, but will instead take a $1.5 million buyout and test the free agent market.

According to CBSSports.com, the Yankees are expected to make him a qualifying offer worth $13.3 million in order to secure draft pick compensation if he signs with another team.

Soriano reportedly wants a four-year deal. He was 2-1 with a 2.26 ERA, 42 saves and 69 strikeouts this season after filling in for the injured Mariano Rivera.

Rafael Soriano may use his opt-out clause to sign a multiyear deal with another team or extend his commitment with the Yankees. (Rob Carr, Getty Images)

Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano is likely to use an opt-out clause that allows him to leave the team after this season according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. Soriano is set to make $14 million in 2013; if he opts out, there would be a $1.5 million buyout.

While the Yankees don’t seem to believe Soriano would exercise the clause to leave the team, he may use it as leverage to negotiate a new multiyear deal.

“Yankees people believe they have a very solid relationship with the quirky Soriano and aren’t convinced he’d exercise the opt-out clause when $14 million is a significant salary. It’s also possible the sides could work out a multiyear deal, in which Soriano would set up in 2013 then close after that.”

However, a multiyear deal would make it hard for the Yankees to keep their payroll below the luxury-tax threshold ($189 million), one of the team’s goals in 2014. Their current payroll is just under $198 million.

Soriano’s original contract ($35 million for three years) received criticism because the team spent so much on a setup reliever and also gave up a first-round draft pick. Soriano is 4-4 with a 2.96 ERA in 102 games with the Yankees.