The defending World Champion New York Yankees made another offseason move in the signing of Nick Johnson. You may remember him as being a former member of the club before being traded in 2003. Johnson will primarily play DH during his one-year contract worth $5.75 million. There are added incentives, but that is based mostly on plate appearances in the upcoming season. Johnson has a terrible history of getting injured, so I honestly don’t see these incentives being triggered. However, if he’s only playing DH, maybe, just maybe, he can have a full season.

Grade for Yankees: C; The Yankees don’t need him in a general sense, but he should be replacing Johnny Damon’s spot at #2 in the lineup. So they do need someone to fill that spot, but seriously, first off someone else could fit that spot (since it’s just a DH,) and secondly they could have just went for someone else. But, it’s a one-year deal so not much risk here, even though he’ll get hurt.

In other news, the Reds and 3B Scott Rolen have agreed to restructure his contract for 2010 and add two more years to the deal. Instead of making $11 million in 2010, he will now make $6 million. Also, he will make $6.5 million for the next two years after that. The club approached him to cut his salary for the next season with the hopes of adding some more pieces, and he agreed when he really didn’t have to. Of course, he did get an extension too, but I’m sure that would have happened anyway. Despite being past his prime, he always hustles and is one of the best of his time.

Staying in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies picked up their 2011 option on SS Jimmy Rollins. That will be the final year of Rollins’ current contract in which he will make $8.5 million. Of the Phillies eight starting position players, they now have seven of them locked up through 2011. This is what makes the Phils so good. Not only have they been able to mostly grow their success from within, they are keeping them around. Rollins is a leader on the team, but I do feel he is overrated in a general sense. I like that they can keep him, and I anticipate 2011 being a big year for him before he looks for a new contract.