Monday proved to be an eventful day in baseball as several teams came to terms with players.

Will the rest of the week be as busy?

In the National League East, the Nationals acquired left-hander Tom Gorzelanny from the Cubs for three Minor Leaguers — outfielder Michael Burgess, right-hander A.J. Morris and left-hander Graham Hicks — according to two baseball sources. According to another source, Gorzelanny became expendable after the Cubs acquired right-hander Matt Garza in a trade with the Rays.

Gorzelanny is one of eight pitchers who will compete for a rotation spot. He is coming off a season in which he went 7-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 29 games (23 starts) with Chicago.

The Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year, $2.75 million contract with left-hander John Lannan to avoid salary arbitration.

Also in the NL East on Monday, the Mets agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Chris Young, according to a baseball source. The deal, which the Mets have not confirmed, is pending a physical.

Young is 48-34 with a 3.80 ERA over a seven-year career with the Rangers and Padres.

In the AL East, the Blue Jays added another reliever into the mix for their vacant closer’s role by signing right-hander Jon Rauch to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million.  His contract with Toronto also includes a club option for 2012 valued at $3.75 million. 

The Blue Jays also reached agreement with right-handers Shawn Camp, Casey Janssen and Jesse Litsch on one-year contracts with each pitcher to avoid arbitration. Janssen will earn $1,095,000 in 2011, and Litsch will earn $830,000.  Camp’s one-year deal is worth $2.25 million.

Around the league:

* B.J. Upton and the Rays reached an agreement on a one-year deal for $4.825 million to avoid arbitration.

* The Rockies have reached a Minor League agreement with Jason Giambi, who has served as a pinch-hitter and backup to Todd Helton at first base with the team since late in the 2009 season. Giambi’s deal is pending a physical. The club also reached a two-year contract with a club option for 2013 with newly acquired right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom.

* The Marlins reached agreement on one-year contracts with closer Leo Nunez and right-handed setup reliever Edward Mujica to avoid arbitration.

* The Indians reached agreement on a one-year contract with Asdrubal Cabrera to avoid arbitration with the shortstop. The deal is worth $2.025 million.

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* The Royals reached agreement with pitcher Robinson Tejeda for $1.55 million to avoid arbitration.

* The Tigers reached agreement with Armando Galarraga for $2.3 million to avoid arbitration, according to Sport Illustrated’s Jon Heyman.

The Dodgers are close to an agreement with free-agent outfielder Marcus Thames as a potential right-handed hitting platoon-mate for Jay Gibbons in left field. The club also has interest in third baseman Eric Chavez and outfielder Gabe Kapler. – Ken Gurnick

The Oakland A’s, who can already claim being the most improved team in the American League West, could be on the verge of acquiring another important piece.

A trio avoided arbitration on Saturday, while Bruce Chen
re-upped with Kansas City and Kyle Farnsworth signed on with the Rays. Most of
those moves, though, paled in comparison to the news of St. Louis’ negotiations
with Albert Pujols.

Pujols, almost certain to be a Hall of Famer, will not
discuss a contract extension once Spring Training is underway, Cards general
manager John Mozeliak said Saturday.

Mozeliak was told of the deadline by Pujols’ agent Danny
Lozano. St. Louis infielders and outfielders report to camp on Feb. 18 in
Jupiter, Fla.

Pujols, whose 31^st birthday is Sunday, is in the
last season of an eight-year deal.

With Zack Greinke out of the mix, Chen returns to the
Royals off a strong 2010 in which he matched Greinke for a team-best ERA among
starters: 4.17. Chen also led the club in wins with 12. The 33-year-old’s
one-year deal is worth $2 million plus incentives and is pending a physical.

The Rays this offseason have seen six relievers
depart via free agency and they recouped some of their losses by bringing in
Farnsworth. The 34-year-old
went 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA in 60 appearances last season with the Royals and
Braves. His deal is for one-year at $3.25 million, and includes a club option
for 2012.

After 119 players filed for arbitration on Friday, four
signed deals on Saturday:

• Carlos Villanueva and the Blue Jays agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.415 million according to Sports
  Illustrated’s Jon Heyman. The 27-year-old right-hander came over from the
  Brewers via trade in December.
• Sidearming right-hander Brad Ziegler, 31, agreed to a one-year deal
  with the A’s worth $1.25 million.
• Phillies outfielder Ben Francisco, 29, is back on a one-year, $1.175 million deal.
• Right-hander Kyle McClellan, 26, avoided arbitration with St. Louis for an
  undisclosed amount of money.