Ray D - I would think a big score for ALR would be more than 3 years and more than $12 MM a year. A 4/ $50MM I think is a big score that a guy playing his age 33 - 36 seasons and comign off a $10MM year. That would be the outside of what he could get guaranteed. (geeky WAR discussion behind spoiler) If you buy the WAR model for pricing a contract, that's 10 WAR, or about .5 WAR decline per year, using his last year as his peak (3.3 / 2.8 / 2.3 / 1.8 is 9.9). You want to discount that 10% since it is long term, so maybe 4/$45. I think that is high, but maybe the team that places the highest value on him might go that high.
As for a go high dollar and short years number for the Nats, I might swallow hard and say 2 / $28MM, with an option for a 3d year at $14 MM, with $2MM buyout. That's $30 MM guaranteed. I think HalfSmokes has it about right on the 2 year amount.