Back in 2009, David Aardsma established himself as a big league closer with the Marlins.

But since then it's been nothing but an uphill battle for the  30-year old that is currently working his way back from Tommy John surgery last July.

However, Aardsma may have caught a break, as the New York Yankees have picked him up for a cool $500,000 according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Yankees sign David Aardsma http://t.co/x27JnLsd

about 8 hours ago via WordPress.comReplyRetweetFavorite

@BryanHoch

Bryan Hoch

The deal is heavily incentive laden and there is also an option for 2013, paying the same $500,000 base with similar incentives based on innings pitched, games finished and other stuff.

Not a bad deal for the  right-handed reliever that is and likely won't be ready to contribute until mid-season.

But if he can get back to his old form,  where he posted a 2.90 ERA and saved 69 games for the Mariners from 2009-10,  he could be a valuable addition to the Bombers' bullpen.

Could the arrival of Aardsma be an indication of the departure of Mario Rivera?

The jury is still out on Scott Kazmir as the once-prominent starting pitcher is  considering six teams to land a job with,  says ESPN’s Buster Olney.

Among those in the Kazmir sweepstakes is the New York Mets, who reportedly showed no interest in Kazmir just last week. Oops I guess the baseball world was wrong.

I guess after spending time in the Mets farm system in 2009, where he had an dismal 5.54 ERA over 55 starts it just didn't add up that New York would want him back.

The 28-year-old Kazmir who pitched in just 1.2 innings last season for the Los Angeles Angels, is rumored to be making a decision this week, however.

From 2005-2008, the southpaw slinger was on top of his game and was once considered to be the best young pitcher in the majors,  posting a record of 45-34 and a 3.52 ERA. He was also a two-time All-Star during that span and led the MLB in strikeouts in 2007 with 239.

Then in 2010, his last full season, Kazmir posted an awful  9-15 record for Los Angeles with a 5.94 ERA. That prompted the Halos to remove him from the lineup so he could spend time attempting to solve his velocity and control issues.

It doesn't appear that has transpired as Kazmir posted an 0-5 record with a 17.02 ERA in  five starts for Triple-A Salt Lake last season.

Can he get back to his old ways, or is Kazmir destined to end his career in the minors?

The Angels' Bobby Abreu doesn't like his new role with the team even though he will earn $9 million in the coming season.

Los Angeles Angels' Bobby Abreu wants to play every day or be traded - ESPN Los Angeles http://t.co/J1rGOvSR

February 21, 2012 7:24 pm via TweetMemeReplyRetweetFavorite

@Enrique_Rojas1

Enrique Rojas/ESPN

The 37-year old , who has been relegated primarily to a bench role by Halos' manager Mike Scioscia has demanded that he be played or be traded according to ESPN.com.

Rumors were that the Angles did try to trade the Venezuelan-born player during the offseason, including a deal that would have sent him to the Yankees for A.J. Burnett.

With an outfield consisting of Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter and Peter Bourjos, Abreu's role is sure to be limited. Especially after coming off the worst season of his career statistically, batting just .253 with eight home runs, 21 stolen bases and 60 RBIs primarily as a DH for the Halos. He did however, still manage to get on base at a respectable .353 clip.

Abreu has a career batting average of .293 with 284 home runs, 393 steals and 1,325 RBIs in sixteen seasons with Houston, Philadelphia, the Yankees and the Angels.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the New York Yankees and veteran third baseman Eric Chavez agreed to terms Tuesday night on a $900,000 package that includes incentives. The deal is pending a physical.

Yankees agree with chavez, pending physical

February 21, 2012 8:08 pm via Mobile WebReplyRetweetFavorite

@JonHeymanCBS

Jon Heyman

Although not official, Yankees ' manager Joe Girardi accidentally leaked the news earlier in the day during a media session Tuesday, while discussing his roster flexibility.

The 34-year old Chavez who has been injured several times thought his lengthy career with the Oakland Athletics hasn't  played more than 100 games since 2006.  Last year he appeared in 58 games with the Yankees missing 21/2 months with a foot injury, while hitting .263 with two home runs and 26 RBI off the bench.

He will serve as the primary backup to Alex Rodriguez at third base, although he could see time as a DH or at first base, allowing Girardi options to slot in Mark Teixeira to DH or Nick Swisher to first.

The Oakland Athletics have signed slugger Manny Ramirez to a one-year deal. Pedro Gomez of ESPN.com first reported the deal.

The deal is low-risk for the A's, as it's just one year at $500,000 with no incentives. Ramirez will first have to serve a 50-game suspension for failing a test for performance enhancing drugs, so he won't even be able to play in the majors this season until June 2.

The 39-year-old Ramirez is a 12-time All Star, but retired abruptly after only playing in five games with the Tampa Bay Rays, in light of the failed PED test. He un-retired this winter though, and the A's were linked to him from the beginning. He is expected to serve as the team's DH once he is done serving his suspension.

Lifetime Manny has hit 555 home runs, which is 14th on the all-time list. He is eight away from catching Reggie Jackson's 563.

It's been the expected move for a long time and today it's official - Raul Ibanez has agreed to sign with the Yankees, tweeted Buster Olney of ESPN.com. Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeted the financial details - one year, $1.1 million.

Yankees have an agreement with Raul Ibanez, pending a physical.

February 20, 2012 7:57 am via Mobile WebReplyRetweetFavorite

@Buster_ESPN

Buster Olney

#Yankees and Ibanez agree on $1.1M deal, pending physical

February 20, 2012 8:25 am via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite

@Joelsherman1

Joel Sherman

The Yankees main need after acquiring young starter Michael Pineda was a left-handed bat, and rumors swirled that Ibanez was the main target. The Bronx Bombers, however, needed to move a big contract first, and they accomplished that last week by trading A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh. Enter the 39-year-old New York native Ibanez.

Over his 16-year career, Ibanez has hit .280 and clubbed 252 home runs. He had been the Phillies' everyday left fielder the last three seasons but the veteran should expect to mostly DH for New York this season.

The Yankees and Pirates have agreed in principle to a deal that will send veteran right hander A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweeted. Nothing is official, however, until MLB approves the deal, because of the large amount of cash involved.

Source: #Yankees, #Pirates in agreement on Burnett. Were working through one final detail today. Burnett will take physical Sunday. #MLB

February 17, 2012 12:49 pm via Twitter for MacReplyRetweetFavorite

@Ken_Rosenthal

Ken Rosenthal

Deal needs #MLB approval. #Yankees will pay $20M of $33M left on Burnett's contract, receive two low-level minor leaguers from #Pirates.

February 17, 2012 12:49 pm via Twitter for MacReplyRetweetFavorite

@Ken_Rosenthal

Ken Rosenthal

The Pirates will add another veteran arm to their rotation as they look to get relevant in the NL Central. They added lefty Erik Bedard this offseason. The Yankees are able to shed some payroll by moving Burnett as they look to get their rotation younger with guys like new trade acquisition Michael Pineda.

Burnett is set to make $16.5 million each of the next two seasons. He has been mostly a disappointment for the Bronx Bombers since signing a free agent deal before the 2009 season. Perhaps a move to a lower-profile team will take some pressure off of him as he tries to get his career back on track with the Bucs.

Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will announce his retirement at a press conference today, Danny Knobler of CBS Sports tweets.

Red Sox say Tim Wakefield will announce retirement today

February 17, 2012 11:37 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@DKnobler

DKnobler

Wakefield, 45, had been offered a minor league contract by the Red Sox but opted to retire instead.

He came up with the Pirates in 1992 and signed as a free agent with the Red Sox after being released by the Pirates in 1995. Wakefield went on to have a stellar '95 for the BoSox with a 16-8 record and a 2.95 ERA and came 3rd in AL Cy Young Award voting that year.

From that point on, he became a mainstay in Boston's rotation for the next 17 seasons, never duplicating those lofty 1995 numbers but continuing to be a workhorse on the mound. He enjoyed success with the Sox in the 2000s, being a part of the World Series winning 2004 and 2007 teams.

Wakefield ends his MLB career with a lifetime record of 200-180 and a career ERA of 4.41.

The Bronx Bombers are still working on unloading the big contract of right-handed starter A.J. Burnett. The team has been uncharacteristically cautious financially this offseason and has been looking to clear Burnett's salary and roster space for some younger players.

Jon Heyman tweets that the Pirates are still the likely destination for the 35-year-old starter, with the Yankees paying a big chunk of the $33 million still owed to him.

for about the eighth straight day (est.), I can report there is a lot of optimism for aj/pirates deal. yanks will pay $20M of aj's $33M

February 16, 2012 9:01 am via Mobile WebReplyRetweetFavorite

@JonHeymanCBS

Jon Heyman

The Yankees and Angels apparently had a Burnett for Bobby Abreu swap on the table, but Burnett rejected the team, preferring to play on the east coast because his wife is afraid of flying, ESPN.com's Wallace Matthews wrote.

It is likely that Burnett would approve a trade to Pittsburgh. The two sides just need agree on financial details for something to get done.

The San Francisco Giants announced Wednesday afternoon via Twitter that they have signed 11-year veteran pitcher Ramon Ortiz to a minor-league contract, along with an invitation to spring training.

#SFGiants invite RHP Ramon Ortiz to Major League camp.

February 15, 2012 3:31 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@SFGiants

San Francisco Giants

The 39-year old right-hander, is a former Angels starter who pitched in 22 games with the Chicago Cubs in 2011 posting a 4.86 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 33 1/3 innings. And that was his best ERA in seven years, during which time he’s logged a total of 529 innings with a 5.47 ERA while earning around $15 million.

Ortiz who  has an amazing ability to stick around despite not being an effective pitcher since 2004, also  made 16 starts completing 99 1/3 innings last season for the Cubs' Triple-A team in Iowa.

The Cubs were the only other team that was publicly linked to Ortiz this offseason, buy it looks like the Giants won out here.

Or did they?