PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks exercised the 2010 contract option on reliever Jon Rauch today.

The 6-foot-11 right-hander will make $2.9 million in 2010. The Diamondbacks would have had to pay $100,000 to buy out the contract.

The Diamondbacks could have declined Rauch's option for 2010 and still controlled his rights, but he would have been eligible for salary arbitration.

Rauch was 4-8 with a 4.14 ERA and a career-high 18 saves in 74 appearances with the Washington Nationals and Diamondbacks last season. He was 0-6 with a 6.56 ERA in 26 games after he came to Arizona in a trade for infielder Emilio Bonafacio on July 22.

Rauch has a 24-23 career record with a 3.83 ERA in 281 games with the Chicago White Sox, Montreal-Washington and Arizona over parts of five seasons.