NL East: Marlins acquire A.J. Ellis

The Marlins have signed veteran catcher A.J. Ellis to a one-year contract.

Ellis will serve as the club’s newest backup catcher after the Marlins’ lost Jeff Mathis to a two-year deal with the Diamondbacks. He and Don Mattingly have worked together back on the Dodgers. Ellis batted a slash of .216/.301/.298 with two home runs over 64 games in the 2016 season.

Here’s what else is going on around the National League East:

The Phillies have reportedly signed reliever Joaquin Benoit.

The Braves are throwing their hat into the ring for Chicago White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana.

The Marlins were very busy bees—er, fish—on Day Three of the Winter Meetings. To accompany the Ellis deal, the Marlins have also signed Jeff Locke to a one-year, $3M contract.

The Nationals acquire Adam Eaton from the White Sox. In turn, Washington is parting with all pitching prospects: Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Dane Dunning.

The Mets are in talks with the Rangers for a deal involving Jay Bruce in exchange for relief pitching.

There go the Marlins again, moving fast and making deals during the Winter Meetings. Miami has re-signed pitchers Dustin McGowan to a one-year deal. Despite their barrage of pitching contracts recently penned, the Marlins are still interested in acquiring either Aroldis Chapman or Kenley Jansen. Good luck.