Yankees Sign Freddy Garcia

Usually by this time every autumn, there are rumors of a big-time free agency signing by the New York Yankees. In late 2008, it was CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira (obviously, AJ Burnett no longer counts as "big-time"). Back in 2001, it was "The Giambino" himself, Jason Giambi. But this year, the MLB Hot Stove has been very cold for the Yankees.

Yesterday, the Yankees continued their quiet offseason by giving pitcher Freddy Garcia a nice Thanksgiving gift: a one-year deal worth 4-5 million dollars. According to several sources who broke the news, Garcia had expressed several times since the end of the season that he wanted to return to the Yankees, despite the fact that he could have found two-year deals with other teams.

Over the past week, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met with Bob Garber, the agent for C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt. However, word on the street is that the Yankees are skittish on both pitchers. Will this be a second straight "quiet winter," at least by Yankees standards? I guess we can only hope and wait over the coming weeks.

Garcia posted a 12-8 record with a 3.62 ERA in 25 starts for the Yankees in 2011. The 35-year-old had 96 strikeouts and walked 45 in 146 2/3 innings.