Gordon to Phils: The name of Tom Gordon was taken off baseball General Managers free agent boards on Friday. Gordon, 38, agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Phillies on a three-year deal worth a reported $18 million. The Phillies signing Tom Gordon comes just days after the club lost closer Billy Wagner to the New York Mets via free agency. Gordon, who spent the last two seasons with the Yankees, threw for 69 strike outs in 80.2 innings in 2005. The veteran reliever also posted a 2.57 ERA as the bridge to Mariano Rivera. Gordon has not been a full-time closer since 2001 when he stopped 27 games for the Chicago Cubs. His best season as a closer occurred in 1998 with the Boston Red Sox where he accumulated 46 saves along with an ERA of 2.72. Breaking Down The Deal Although they needed a closer after losing out on Wagner, the fact that Gordon received a three-year deal is pushing the envelope. While he has been a serviceable reliever for the Yankees the past two seasons, the Phillies seem to have forgotten that he is thirty-eight years old. He has lost some velocity on his fastball and his past arm problems are well-documented. This could turn out to be a good signing for next season because Gordon still possesses that nasty curve. Though the Phils might be in trouble a couple of years from now when ?Flash? finally burns out. My Grade: [B-] ? with few closer options available after the Wagner and Ryan signings; this is a decent move by the Phillies - for this year anyway. Farnsworth to Yanks: The New York Yankees made their first big addition of the off-season on Friday when they inked reliever Kyle Farnsworth to a three-year contract worth $17 million. Just hours after losing Tom Gordon to the Phillies, the Yankees signed the 30-year-old flamethrower to be the team?s set-up man. Farnsworth, who split time with Detroit and Atlanta, struck out 87 batters in 70 innings during the 2005 campaign. He also posted an ERA of 2.19 along with 16 saves. Farnsworth began his career with the Chicago Cubs in 1999. He was dealt to Detroit in February for three minor leaguers and then to Atlanta in a trade deadline deal during July. Breaking Down The Deal ? Farnsworth?s fastball has hit the three-digit mark on the radar gun; he also features a wicked two-seamer and a cutting slider. He has evolved into a fine strikeout pitcher. Although left-handers hit him a bit too well and he needs plenty of rest in order to perform, Farnsworth should be a valuable asset to the New York bullpen during the season. Playoff time, however, could be another story?stay tuned. My Grade: [B+] ? good move by the Yankees, so long as Joe Torre doesn?t burn him out during the season (as he?s done with past setup men).