Hold it together  —  Fun fact: If you asked me yesterday to predict the 2011 NL East winner, I would have said the Braves.  They have a bunch of good young hitters and a strong, durable front of the rotation.  —  Then last night, the Phillies signed Cliff Lee to a reported five-year, $120 million deal with a vesting option.

Yankees come to terms with Russell Martin  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees have agreed to terms on a contract with Russell Martin, multiple sources told MLB.com on Monday.  Details of the deal, which is contingent on a physical and will not be made official until Martin does so, were not immediately available.

Desmond would like to remain with Nationals  —  WASHINGTON — Shortstop Ian Desmond has heard his name mentioned in trade rumors, but he made it known on Tuesday that he wants to stay with the Nationals.  —  The Nationals have interest in Royals right-hander Zack Greinke and Rays right-hander Matt Garza.

Yanks, Prior ink minor-league deal … The Yankees signed former No. 2 overall pick Mark Prior to a minor-league contract.  —  Prior, 30, hasn't pitched in the majors since his last year with the Cubs in 2006.  If he rises back to the big leagues, Prior will earn $750,000, plus a possible $750,000 in incentives.

Navarro officially joins Dodgers  —  Catcher returns to LA to compete for backup role  —  The Dodgers officially reacquired free-agent catcher Dioner Navarro when he passed his physical exam on Monday.  —  The former All-Star and former Dodger will compete with A.J. Ellis as backup …

Pirates sign 1B Overbay  —  The Pirates have signed free agent first baseman Lyle Overbay to a one-year contract, the team announced on Tuesday.  Financial terms of the contract were not immediately known.  —  Overbay, 33, comes to Pittsburgh after spending the last five seasons with Toronto.

To combat dwindling attendance, Cleveland Indians are shrinking their ticket prices  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio — Losing has its price.  —  For the Indians, the price of losing 190 games over the last two seasons — in a shrinking market — was the lowest attendance in baseball.

Source: Kevin Gregg, Baltimore Orioles close; Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals lingering  —  BOSTON — Right-handed reliever Kevin Gregg is close to signing a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles worth $12 million, according to a league source.  —  The Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals …

Reds announce Bruce contract  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — The small-market Cincinnati Reds know they can't give long-term contracts to just anybody.  —  They believe Jay Bruce isn't just anybody.  —  General manager Walt Jocketty officially announced on Tuesday that the Reds and Bruce …

Orioles To Sign Jeremy Accardo  —  The Orioles agreed to sign Jeremy Accardo to a one-year, $1.08MM deal, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).  Accardo, 29 this weekend, saved 30 games and posted a 2.14 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 as the Blue Jays' closer in 2007.

Oakland Athletics seal deal with new designated hitter Hideki Matsui  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics have landed their new designated hitter.  —  The A's and free agent slugger Hideki Matsui finalized a one-year contract Tuesday after he passed a physical.

Cards reach agreement with Laird as Molina's backup  —  The Cardinals have completed their 25-man puzzle by agreeing with free agent catcher Gerald Laird on a one-year contract, pending Laird passing a team physical.  —  Laird, 31, has appeared in eight major-league seasons and served …