Nathan, A.J. Sign, J.P. Non-Tendered

Pierzysnki and Nathan are going their separate ways

Some of the pieces to the MLB free agent puzzle are starting to fall into places while some have been added. Closer Joe Nathan, the active saves leader, agreed to a two year deal with the Detroit Tigers, catcher A.J. Pierzynski jouned the Boston Red Sox, and Toronto catcher J.P. Arencibia will be looking for a new home after the Blue Jays did not tender him a contract.

Nathan and his 341 saves was the top closer on the free agent market this off-season. I was hoping the Yankees would make a strong push for 39-year old, but you can't blame him for going to a team whose top three starters are Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Anibal Sanchez. The deal, reported by CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, is reportedly for two years at an unspecified rate.

The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham reported that Pierzynski, who ironically was dealt from the Minnesota Twins to the SF Giants in 2003 for a package that included Nathan and played with the closer in Texas last season, is set to ink a one year, $8.25MM deal with the Red Sox. Pierzynski spent the 2013 season with the Texas Rangers after eight seasons with the Chicago White Sox. He'll replace Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is reportedly close to signing with either the Twins or Florida Marlins.

Arencibia hit a total of 63 home runs in his first three years in the Major Leagues, but posted a .592 OPS this past season. (His career high is .720.) He also committed an AL leading 11 errors behind the plate.  The Blue Jays acquisition of veteran Dioner Navarro made Arencibia expendable, though the team was unable to trade him.

The Baltimore Orioles dealt closer Jim Johnson to the Oakland A's for second baseman Jemile Weeks and a player to be named later or cash. Johnson had a bust out season in 2012 when he saved 51 games in 54 chances. Though he saved 50 wins in 2013, he blew nine save attempts and lost eight games. Having made $6.5MM in 2013, he's set to become a free agent in 2015. He'll replace free agent Grant Balfour as closer, though set up man/some time closer Ryan Cook could still steal the job away IMO. The Orioles have stated they will look to acquire a replacement for Johnson rather than use someone who is presently within the organization.

Weeks, the younger brother of the Milwaukee Brewers' Richie Weeks, showed promise when he posted a .761 OPS in 97 games in 2011. A year later he was barely above .600 and has spent most of his time in the minor leagues since.

Swisher, Soriano Among the Bigger Names Left in FA Market

When Nick Swisher and Rafael Soriano turned down one year, $13.3MM qualifying offers from the Yankees, it was obvious there time in New York was officially over. The two are among the handful of valuable players that are still available via the free agent market.

It's no surprise that Swisher had not signed up until now given the market had to be set first by Josh Hamilton, the biggest prize among every day players. In the case of Soriano, I suspect  agent Scott Boras have overvalued the market. (Boras blames players of a lesser value - he specifically mentioned Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino - for getting too much money and throwing things off. Wait, what? Boras said someone is overpaid?!)

It came as no surprise when Soriano opted out of the three year, $35MM deal he had with the Yankees with one year remaining. Soriano took advantage of closer Mariano Rivera's misfortune in 2012 to save 42 games in 46 attempts. With Jose Valverde being the only other closer on the market who has had recent success (2011, he stunk this past season), one would think there would be plenty of teams willing to sign Soriano to a three or four year big money deal. Boras pushed the Tigers hard to replace Valverde with Soriano but has been rebuffed in his attempts thus far.

Swisher put together a steady regular season resume with the Yankees from 2009 - 2012.  Swisher's .850 OPS was accompanied by an average of 26 HR and 83 RBI. He also walked more than 90 times in a season in half of his career in the Bronx.

As steady as he was during the regular season, Swisher was just as unreliable during the post-season. His 5-30 (.167) showing in two playoff series this past Fall left him with a career split of .169/.283/.305 in 181 post-season plate appearances.

The Cleveland Indians have been the team most mentioned when Swisher's names comes up. The switch-hitting outfielder is said to be looking for a four year deal in his first entree into the free agent extravaganza. He earned $10.25MM last season and recently turned 32-years old.

Other outfielders still available include Michael Bourn, Scott Hairston, and Cody Ross. The Yankees have reportedly shown some interest in the soon-to-be 30-year old Bourn. The Yankees are hopeful they'll get a new two-year deal done soon with Ichiro Suzuki, who with Curtis Granderson, and Brett Gardner, would split outfield time with a right-handed bat.

The left-handed hitting Bourn would not fit that bill and is a similar type of player to Gardner, who made about a third of Bourn's salary last year. If the Yankees were to deal Curtis Granderson, it would relieve them of $15MM in salary, but leave a substantial power hole in the lineup. Considering he becomes a free agent after the 2013 season, it makes no sense to deal Granderson, especially if he can recapture his 2011 swing.

Hairston would be a decent fit for the Yankees if he can approach the .803 OPS he compiled with the Mets last season. Hairston has battled injuries often in his career, but played in 134 games last season and hit 20 home runs for the first time.

This is the second consecutive season as a free agent for Ross, who signed a one year deal with Boston for just $3MM prior to the 2012 season. It was less than half the amount he had earned with the San Francisco Giants the year before. The righty hitting outfielder hit 22 HR and drove in 81 runs for the Red Sox and added an .807 OPS. But there was a wide chasm between his Fenway Park numbers and those he put together on the road. (.921 OPS at home; .684 on the road) The Phillies are said to be interested in bringing Ross back to the National League, where he had played the previous seven years.

First baseman Adam LaRoche appears set to cash in on his 2012 season in which he hit a career high 33 home runs for the Washington Nationals and matched his career high of 100 RBI. The Nats would like to retain LaRoche's services, but so far the two sides have not been able to agree on the length and amount of a contract.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski will be 36-years old before the calendar changes to 2013, but one of the game's lightning rods is still in demand. It's largely due Pierzynski's 27 HR, 77 RBI campaign last season and his ability to handle a pitching staff. Yankees fans would love to see Pierzysnki brought in with a two-year deal to bolster the current group of catchers as well as to mentor guys like Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez.

Not a Grand Way to Start the Month

Mark Teixeira had to be doing cartwheels that the calendar flipped, but a new month was no different for Javier Vazquez. Another bad start led to a 5-1 deficit, which the Yankees overcame, only to see the bullpen lose it 7-6. To make matters worse, Curtis Granderson pulled up lame running the bases and was diagnosed with a grade 2 strain of his groin. He was placed on the DL and reliever Mark Melancon was recalled from Scranton to take his place.

Vazquez struggled with his command as he has all season. He allowed a pair of solo home runs to Andruw Jones and a 2-run shot to Mark Kotsay. He departed after three completed innings that saw his ERA go up slightly to 9.78. The Star Ledger's Marc Carig reported that Joe Girardi would not commit to Vazquez making his next start.

The Yankees offense chipped away and wore down White Sox starter John Danks, who still departed after five innings with a 5-2 lead. In the 6th, Brett Gardner singled in a run, but Granderson's injury occurred as he neared third base. Derek Jeter's ground out brought home pinch-runner Randy Winn to cut the deficit to a single run. Nick Swisher, who has slumped at home, blasted a 2-run shot off Scott Linebrink to give the Yankees their first lead of the day. It wouldn't last long.

David Robertson allowed a one out double to Paul Konerko in the 7th. Two batters later, Girardi elected to intentionally walk Carlos Quentin and let lefty Damaso Marte face the left-handed hitting A.J. Pierzysnki. The move backfired when Pierzynski doubled home both runners to put the Chisox back on top.

Alex Rodriguez singled with two outs against closer Bobby Jenks, but red hot Robinson Cano took the collar when he grounded back to the box to end the game.

Monday Morning Quarterback

Another Monday morning... and still half asleep at 10 o'clock. Mondays, particularly the morning, are dreadful. So is the news that Osi Umenyiora is out for the season. Are we the only ones sick of a major Giants player getting hurt in the Jets exhibition game? Will this bring Michael Strahan out of retirement (aka Brett Favreland).

A.J. Pierzynski will never have to wonder why his peers don't vote him on to the All-Star team.

Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crow kicked off the Democratic convention.

A newly-minted gold medalist and an everyday skank will be on Dancing with the Stars.

A new addition to the Flight 93 memorial.

Bartering with Sex. This is the new millennium?

Matt Leinart still can't win the starting job.

Pilot Inspektor? WTF are these people thinking?


Meanwhile, here's some Led Zeppelin to wake you up.

Monday Morning Quarterback

Another Monday morning... and still half asleep at 10 o'clock. Mondays, particularly the morning, are dreadful. So is the news that Osi Umenyiora is out for the season. Are we the only ones sick of a major Giants player getting hurt in the Jets exhibition game? Will this bring Michael Strahan out of retirement (aka Brett Favreland).

A.J. Pierzynski will never have to wonder why his peers don't vote him on to the All-Star team.

Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crow kicked off the Democratic convention.

A newly-minted gold medalist and an everyday skank will be on Dancing with the Stars.

A new addition to the Flight 93 memorial.

Bartering with Sex. This is the new millennium?

Matt Leinart still can't win the starting job.

Pilot Inspektor? WTF are these people thinking?


Meanwhile, here's some Led Zeppelin to wake you up.