Eric O'Flaherty could be close to returning to the Braves, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.

Now appears that if #Nationals sign a LH reliever, it will be Howell or Downs. Other clubs getting feeling O'Flaherty will go back to Braves — Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 10, 2013

While this isn't a done deal and seems to be speculation from the unspecified other teams, Stark tends to be solid with his reporting.

O'Flaherty has been with the Braves since 2009 when they claimed him from the Mariners for next to nothing. He's been terrific ever since, posting a 1.99 ERA and 3.16 FIP over 249 innings. EOF's been worth 3 WAR in that span, which is quite impressive for a guy who's primarily worked out of the seventh and eighth innings.

O'Flaherty likely won't return to the mound until May or June as he continues recovering from Tommy John Surgery.

We'll have to see if this gets finalized in the coming days, but as long as the price isn't absurd – it really shouldn't be for a middle reliever coming off major arm surgery – this would seem to be a solid re-addition for the Braves.