The Washington Nationals have agreed to sign catcher Matt Wieters on Tuesday. 

Wieters and the Nationals came to terms on a two-year, $21 million contract that includes an opt-out after this season. Wieters will earn $10.5 million each year, effectively making it a one-year deal if he decides to opt-out. 

The contract includes deferrals, so $5 million of his earnings will not come until 2021. 

Wieters gives the Nationals another viable option at catcher to amend for the loss of Wilson Ramos. He left for the Rays this offseason via free agency. 

Until today, the Nationals' plan was to utilize Derek Norris at primary catcher with Jose Lobaton and/or Pedro Severino serving time as backup. This signing makes either one of them expendable, and Severino could fetch more in a trade, being that he's one of their top prospects and provides positional value. 

Regardless, Wieters had trouble finding a suitor throughout the offseason due to his asking price and level of interest, making him one of the last free agents to sign. 

Nonetheless, he still is able to contribute on both sides of the plate. 

The 30-year-old Wieters has spent his entire career on the Northside of the Capital Beltway with the Baltimore Orioles, and he hit .243/.302/.409 with them last year. Wieters added 17 home runs, but on the whole, his 88 wRC+ suggested below-average offensive production. 

Regardless, Wieters' defense has always made him highly touted, and he was still worth 1.7 fWAR last year albeit the poor offensive output. 

At his best, Wieters was a slightly above-average hitter with excellent defense, resulting in a four-year span from 2010 to 2013 that was worth 13 total fWAR (3.25 / year). 

Any glimpse of that production from Wieters in 2017 would be of great benefit to the Nationals, who are once again in the hunt to win the National League. Of course, Wieters is able to become a free agent at the end of the year, and a great season would help him out with his next contract as well. 

Wieters is yet another Scott Boras client that joins the Washington squad. Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Drew are also represented by Boras, who is considered to be one of the most prominent agents in the industry. 

FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman was the first to report the signing, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports added prevalent contract details. 

--Devan Fink

The Atlanta Braves announced that they have acquired second baseman Brandon Phillips from the Cincinnati Reds. 

In exchange for Phillips, the Reds received two minor league prospects: right-hander Carlos Portuondo and left-hander Andrew McKirahan.

Phillips is owed $14 million on his contract for the 2017 season, and the Reds will pay all but $1 million of that sum. In order to complete this trade, Phillips waived his 10-and-5 (10 years in MLB; five with current team) no-trade rights. 

The Braves, with the addition of Phillips, are getting a veteran presence to help guide the middle of the infield. Phillips will be the oldest (and most experienced) player in the Braves' lineup. His leadership could be key to the development of the Braves' young prospects, including shortstop Dansby Swanson. 

Granted, he could be pretty valuable on the field, too. 

According to FanGraphs, Phillips was worth 0.9 WAR, something that seems repeatable for the 2017 season. In that case, the Braves would be getting something resembling a steal at just a $1 million and two marginal prospects cost. 

Phillips posted a .291/.320/.416 line last season, hitting 11 home runs and driving in 64. He added 14 stolen bases. FanGraphs projects a similar season for him in 2017 with a 1.0 WAR. 

For Cincinnati, trading Phillips now makes sense. It opens up the door for prospects like Jose Peraza to step in to the big league club, allowing them to see the potential down the road. 

Their tangible return may be small, though. 

The Cuban 29-year-old Portuondo pitched 34.2 innings in the Braves' system last year (High-A and Triple-A), his first season playing in the United States. He posted a 3.63 ERA over 17 games (one start). Portuondo added 25 strike outs and 17 walks. 

McKirahan comes with 27.1 innings of Major League experience, all in 2015. Now 27, he missed the entire 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery. He has the potential to be a high-strikeout arm in the bullpen if he can stay healthy. 

The trade is the first that Phillips has agreed to in four tries. He blocked trades to the Nationals and Diamondbacks in the past, and he even blocked a trade to the Braves in November. 

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports was the first to report the Braves and Phillips connection. 

--Devan Fink

The New York Yankees signed first baseman and designated hitter Chris Carter on Tuesday. 

The two sides agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal, according to reports. The contract includes a $500,000 signing bonus and $100,000 in incentives at every 50 plate appearances starting from 250 PA until 450 PA. 

Carter is a big power bat and should supplement the Yankees at first base and designated hitter, places where they do not necessarily have holes but could need reinforcement. 

Carter was non-tendered by the Brewers earlier this offseason, even after leading the National League in home runs with 41 home runs. He has plenty of power but struggles to avoid the strikeout. 

Last year, Carter posted a .222/.321/.499 slash line with those 41 homers and 94 RBIs. But poor defense, high strikeout totals (32 percent of his PAs ended in strikeouts) and other factors resulted in Carter only being worth 0.9 WAR. 

Projected to earn $8 million in arbitration, the Brewers decided to let him go. And, after not finding a taker until this point, Carter's agent went on the record saying that he may begin to consider offers in Japan. 

Unfortunately for Carter, he's probably going to be non-tendered again next offseason. The Yankees cannot offer him consistent at bats with Greg Bird, Tyler Austin and Matt Holliday all deserving of serious consideration at first base and DH, Carter's two main spots.

He still provides upside for the team and an insurance policy if those other three pieces do not perform or get injured. Otherwise, though, it will be hard for Carter to rack up at bats, potentially hurting his power numbers. 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today was the first to report Carter's signing, and FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman confirmed the story with contractual details. 

--Devan Fink

The Texas Rangers agreed to sign first baseman and designated hitter Mike Napoli to a one-year deal on Tuesday. 

Media reports suggest that Napoli's deal is worth $8.5 million and could include a club option. An announcement probably will not come until next week. 

The contract represents a return to Texas for Napoli, who spent two seasons there from 2011 through 2012. 

Napoli enjoyed an offensive revolution across the board last year, posting career highs in home runs and RBIs. Overall, though, he posted a .239/.335/.465 with 34 home runs and 101 RBIs with the Indians, helping to lead them to the World Series. 

While his numbers, on paper, look excellent, Napoli's wRC+ of 113 and poor defense resulted in a WAR of just 1.0. The upside offensively is still there, but at 35, there is a good chance he will not be able to repeat his good year. 

Regardless, this does not mean that he cannot serve a purpose in Texas. In 2017, Napoli projects to serve as the primary first baseman, fitting in the middle of the order around Adrian Beltre, Jonathan Lucroy and Rougned Odor. 

The Rangers' 2016 first baseman, Mitch Moreland, left the team to go sign with the Boston Red Sox. 

Napoli was one of the big remaining free agents with Spring Training right around the corner. Matt Wieters, Travis Wood and others still remain unsigned as pitchers and catchers begin to report this Sunday.

Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was the first to report the agreement between the sides, and Jim Bowden of ESPN reported the details. ​

--Devan Fink

The Cleveland Indians agreed to sign left-handed relief pitcher Boone Logan on Thursday. 

Logan and the Indians reached a one-year, $5.5 million deal with a club option for 2018. The option is valued at $7 million with a $1 million buyout. At a minimum, Logan will earn a guaranteed $6.5 million. 

The Indians have recognized that this is their chance to win the World Series, coming off an AL pennant run in 2016. Logan is the second big addition for them this offseason, with the first coming in the form of slugging first baseman Edwin Encarnacion. 

Logan joins the Indians following three seasons pitching in Colorado with the Rockies. 

In 2016, he pitched 46 1/3 innings out of their bullpen, posting a 3.69 ERA and a 57-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. According to FanGraphs, he was worth 0.8 wins above replacement (fWAR). 

The 32-year-old's biggest strength comes against left-handed hitters, who he held to a .139/.222/.255 slash line over 119 plate appearances in 2016. 

With the signing, the Indians appeared to fill a need for another left-handed relief pitcher. The team does have a southpaw in relief ace Andrew Miller, but their only other lefty option in 2017 was projected to be Hoby Milner, a Rule 5 draft selection who may not even make the team out of Spring Training. 

Cleveland is coming off of a season with one of the best bullpens in Major League Baseball, posting a 5.0 fWAR and a 3.45 ERA, ranking 7th and 4th in the league, respectively. 

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports was the first to report Logan's signing with the Indians, and Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer reported contract details. 

--Devan Fink