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Yankees Re-Sign Mariano Rivera

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The Yankees re-signed Mariano Rivera to a two-year deal, the team announced today. The contract will pay Rivera $30MM, according to Christian Red of the New York Daily News. 

Now 41, Rivera is coming off yet another dominant season. He posted a 1.80 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in 60 innings of work. It's logical to assume that Rivera will slow down at some point, but recent history suggests Rivera can still be an effective late-inning reliever. He has a 1.64 ERA with 8.9 K/9, 1.3 BB/9 and three All-Star selections since 2008.

Rivera received competitive offers from rival teams, including the Red Sox, but wanted to stay in pinstripes. Agent Fernando Cuza confirmed that interested teams other than the Yankees called about Rivera and Jon Heyman of SI.com reported that the Red Sox and Angels were two of three teams that offered the closer three-year deals (all Twitter links).

Dodgers Sign Dioner Navarro

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The Dodgers signed Dioner Navarro, the team announced. He'll earn $1MM, according to the Associated Press (via the Miami Herald).

The Rays non-tendered the former Dodger earlier in the month after his tenure in Tampa Bay ended poorly. Navarro made the All-Star team in 2008, when he batted .295/.349/.407, but his line is just .212/.263/.306 in 552 plate appearances since.

GM Ned Colletti says the Dodgers "are comfortable with how [Navarro] handles a pitching staff,” calling the 26-year-old a “solid Major League catcher."

Navarro joined the Dodgers in '05 as part of the Shawn Green trade with Arizona, but then was shipped to Tampa Bay the following year. Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times first reported the Dodgers' agreement with Navarro (on Twitter).

Cliff Lee Signing Reactions

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Just 24 hours ago, we didn't know the Phillies were even pursuing Cliff Lee. They've since agreed to sign the left-hander to a five-year deal worth $120MM, and the reactions have been streaming in from around the web. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes pointed out some things we learned about the signing, the fallout for other teams, and some possible fits for Joe Blanton. Here are some other reactions from around the web:

  • As ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says, "the Phillies had to station themselves strategically just off to the side of Lee's massive stage so that no one ever noticed them." It sure seemed like the Rangers or Yankees would end up signing the left-hander.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports argues that the Phillies' turnaround should inspire more clubs to operate similarly and says the Rangers, Twins and Nationals are making progress.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests that "though the 2014 Yankees might benefit from not having another high-paid, aging player such as Lee, the 2011 Yankees are sure to be hurt by his absence."
  • In a separate piece, Sherman argues that the Red Sox and, especially, the Phillies deserve credit for joining the Yankees in the "uber-team" category.
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says the offseason starts anew today, since Lee's unavailable and the Yankees and Rangers are among the teams with major needs.
  • Yahoo's Jeff Passan says Lee is baseball's newest hero, an "antidote for a baseball-viewing public tired of the Yankees throwing around free-agent dollars like toy money."
  • ESPN.com's Keith Law says there's an opportunity for a GM to capitalize on a pitching-thin market by trading a starter when no one expects it.
  • Dave Cameron of FanGraphs gives Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. credit for acquiring a top pitcher at the right time. 
  • Newsday's Ken Davidoff calls the deal "mind-blowing," since players so rarely turn away from tens of millions of dollars. As Davidoff says, the Yankees must be crushed, regardless of what they say publicly. 

Orioles Still Have Offer On Table For Gregg

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2:48pm: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun tweets that the Orioles have not made a two-year, $12MM offer to Gregg and they don't feel a deal is imminent.  They've still got a two-year offer in the $8-10MM range on the table.

2:44pm: The Orioles are close to a two-year, $12MM deal with reliever Kevin Gregg, reports ESPN's Joe McDonald.  He notes that the Red Sox and Nationals are still involved in talks with Gregg, but the Orioles are the frontrunner.

The potential Baltimore deal is the same as the one they struck with Mike Gonzalez a year ago, and I think they'll have similar regrets in overpaying for saves again.  Gregg, 32, posted a 3.51 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, and 42.3% groundball rate in 59 innings this year.  He saved 37 games in 43 tries, an improvement on his 76-77% success rate of the previous two years.    

Mariners Sign Langerhans, Bautista, Gimenez, Ring

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The Mariners announced they've signed four players to minor league deals with spring training invites today: outfielder Ryan Langerhans, reliever Denny Bautista, catcher Chris Gimenez, and reliever Royce Ring.

Langerhans, 31 in February, hit .207/.328/.351 in 254 plate appearances over the last two seasons with the Mariners, playing mostly left field.  He was non-tendered by the Mariners a year ago, re-signed shortly thereafter, designated for assignment in April, and outrighted in November.

Bautista, 28, posted a 3.74 ERA, 11.8 K/9, 7.2 BB/9, 1.1 HR/9, and 33.3% groundball rate in 33 2/3 innings for the Giants this year.  He averaged almost 95 mph on his fastball, but clearly had control issues.  In a 22 2/3 inning Triple-A stint, his walk rate was down at 3.6 per nine.     

Gimenez, 28 later this month, has 197 big league plate appearances with the Indians to his name.  This year at Triple-A, he hit .276/.341/.464 in 219 plate appearances while spending time at catcher and the outfield corners.  He can also handle the infield corners.

Ring, 30 later this month, posted a 1.93 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 0.4 HR/9 in 42 Triple-A innings for the Yankees' affiliate this year.  The southpaw posted a 9.8 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 against lefty batters.

Cliff Lee Signing: The Fallout

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Cliff Lee's unexpected five-year, $120MM deal with the Phillies has repercussions for several teams. 

Rangers

Yankees

  •  From Joel Sherman of the New York Post: "One Yankees executive likened what they now face as losing out on Microsoft stock and instead having to diversify the portfolio to keep it strong."  The Yanks have added Russell Martin and will probably look into innings-eaters or reclamation project starters.  They're also expected to add two relievers and a righty-hitting fourth outfielder.  So, they'll spread the wealth.
  • GM Brian Cashman preached that "Plan B is patience."  He feels that prices will go up with teams, and I assume agents, sensing blood in the water.  He's also willing to wait until the season to make an acquisition.
  • Cashman says Lee's decision "doesn't affect" Andy Pettitte, who remains undecided but is feeling the pull of retirement a little stronger than normal.
  • Cashman talked about the failed Lee trade from July and said he's grateful it didn't happen.  At this point, he says "It would be a rare situation for me to include Montero in a deal."

Phillies

They'll look to move Joe Blanton before Opening Day; CSNPhilly's Jim Salisbury tweets that there is no rush.  Nonetheless, we've already looked at potential trade partners.  Blanton's agent Casey Close expects a trade.

Other Teams

Red Sox Considering Matt Albers

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The Red Sox are considering reliever Matt Albers as a depth signing, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.  We've seen Boston linked to most high-profile relievers, but Albers would likely be signed cheaply.

Albers, 28 in January, posted a 4.52 ERA, 5.8 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, 0.7 HR/9, and strong 56.5% groundball rate in 75 2/3 innings for the Orioles this year before being non-tendered.  The Orioles had acquired Albers three years ago as part of the Miguel Tejada deal.  He was diagnosed with a torn labrum in the middle of the '08 season, but chose rehab over surgery.

Athletics Sign Hideki Matsui

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The Athletics have officially signed Hideki Matsui to a one-year deal, $4.25MM deal.  Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle broke the news yesterday and ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted the amount today.  Agent Arn Tellem of WMG represents Matsui.

The 36-year-old Matsui arrived in the AL West last year and batted .274/.361/.459 in 554 plate appearances, mostly while serving as the Angels' designated hitter. Matsui hit 21 homers and 24 doubles in his first MLB season on a team other than the Yankees.

NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman passes along a report (via Twitter) indicating that Matsui's contract with the A's has a limited no-trade clause preventing trades to the Mariners, Orioles, Twins, Blue Jays, Indians, and Royals.

Pirates Sign Lyle Overbay

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The Pirates signed first baseman Lyle Overbay to a one-year, $5MM deal, the team announced.  Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review provided the amount.  The statement from GM Neal Huntington:

"Lyle Overbay is solid major league player and we expect him to have a positive impact on our club offensively, defensively, and in the clubhouse."

The Pirates primarily used Garrett Jones at first base in 2010, but they expressed a desire to add a right-handed hitting complement.  Overbay doesn't fit that description; GM Neal Huntington told MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch the new plan is to have Jones could pair up with new acquisition Matt Diaz in right field.  Overbay will be the everyday first baseman.

Overbay, 34 in January, hit .243/.329/.433 in 607 plate appearances for the Blue Jays this year.  His performance picked up after a rough start.  Overbay is represented by Octagon.

Tigers Sell Alfredo Figaro’s Contract To Orix Buffaloes

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The Tigers sold righty Alfredo Figaro's contract to the Orix Buffaloes of Japan, according to the team's Twitter feed.

Figaro, 26, has 31 2/3 big league innings to his name.  This year in Triple-A, he posted a 4.14 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 0.8 HR/9 in 124 innings.  Baseball America ranked him 15th among Tigers prospects heading into the season, calling him a power arm with a back-end starter ceiling.

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