MIAMI -- The perennially thrifty Miami Marlins have become big spenders in the late innings.Two people familiar with the deal said right-hander Brad Ziegler agreed Friday to a $16 million, two-year contract with the Marlins, who added their second former Red Sox reliever in as many days.The people confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it wont be final until Ziegler passes a physical. The agreement came shortly after right-hander Junichi Tazawa finalized his $12 million, two-year contract with the Marlins.Miami is hoping a deep bullpen will give manager Don Mattingly lots of options to help compensate for a rotation weakened by the loss of ace Jose Fernandez, killed in a boating accident in September.Im very excited with how our bullpen looks, said president of baseball operations Michael Hill, speaking before the Ziegler deal was confirmed. We wanted to create as much depth and talent and versatility as we could, and give Donnie as many options as possible to potentially shorten the game.Tazawas acquisition came with an endorsement from Ichiro Suzuki, the Marlins outfielder and 3,000-hit club member. What was Suzukis scouting report on Tazawa, a fellow native of Japan?That hes a very good pitcher and can help us, Hill said. He signed off, and that was good to know.Ziegler is a nine-year veteran with a career ERA of 2.44 and 85 saves. He has pitched for three teams, including Arizona and Boston last year.Tazawa had been with the Red Sox since his rookie year in 2009, and has a career ERA of 3.58. Miami swung the deals for both pitchers after falling short in its pursuit of high-priced closers Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen.We know theres competition for players, Hill said. You have a Plan A, but you have a Plan B, C and D to accomplish your goal.Ziegler is expected to compete with incumbent A.J. Ramos for the closers job. Tazawa should help compensate for the loss of left-hander Mike Dunn to Colorado in free agency.The goal is always to try to put together the deepest bullpen we can, and a bullpen with different looks and different ways to get people out, Hill said. With Junichi you see someone who has pitched in the very competitive American League East and has a varied repertoire of weapons to get hitters out.The Marlins have also acquired starting pitchers Edinson Volquez and Jeff Locke this offseason, and they added A.J. Ellis as their backup catcher.Miami designated right-hander Nefi Ogando for assignment to clear a roster spot.Butch Beard Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Tyler Zeller Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. https://www.cheapcavaliers.com/1402q-cedi-osman-jersey-cavaliers.html . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Mo Williams Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Cavaliers Jerseys 2021 .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play.MILWAUKEE -- The Pittsburgh Pirates had timely hitting, but a key double play helped even more.Andrew McCutchen, Jody Mercer and Josh Bell each drove in two runs and the Pirates preserved their faint playoff hopes with a 6-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.The Pirates won their fifth straight at Miller Park, and fifth of six overall to improve to .500 (75-75) for the first time since they were 69-69 on Sept. 8. Pittsburgh began the day five games behind San Francisco for the second NL wild card spot and St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins in between the Pirates and Giants.McCutchens two-run double in the first staked rookie left-hander Steven Brault to an early lead. Then, Bells two-run single in the top of fifth chased starter Matt Garza (5-8).Staked to a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth, Brault walked Jonathan Villar who stole second and moved to third on Orlando Arcias single to center. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made a move to his bullpen and brought in Jared Hughes (1-1) to face Chris Carter.It is first and third with nobody out in the fifth, Hurdle said. Where we are in the season right now, I felt (Brault) gave us (enough.) It is a sticky situation.Carter lined Hughes first pitch at third baseman Jung Ho Kang, who fielded the ball cleanly and turned it into a double play that deflated the rally. Hughes struck out Domingo Santana to end the threat.We ended up scoring a run, but thats two outs right there on one pitch, Carter said. He ended up (retiring) the next guy. That kind of changed the momentum right there.Brewers manager Craig Counsell was even more emphatic.That was a big play, he said. We had guys on first and second and got to their bullpen. Chris hit a ball hard, and he made a nice play. That certainly was the play of the game, for sure.The Brewers went quietly the rest of the way against the Pirates bullpen.You want guys who can come in and have some experience and take care of it from there, Hurdle said.And thats exactly what happened.Wade LeBlanc pitched the sixth which ended on another double play. Juan Nicasio set the side down in order in the seventh. Antonio Bastardo struck out two in the eighth and Tony Watson tossed a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 17 chances.Brault was making his seventh career start and had already lost twice to the Brewers. He allowed Santanas run-scoring double in the third and Martin Maldonados home run in the fourth. Brault scattered five hits, struck out four, walked two and was three outs from his first major-league win.Even though I couldnt go the five and get the win, I kept my team in it, Brault said.dddddddddddd We got the win. We are making a playoff push, that is all that really matters right now.Mercer produced run-scoring singles in the fourth and sixth.Adam Frazier went 3 for 4, scored twice and extended his streak of reaching base safely to 10 straight games for the Pirates.Garza allowed five runs and eight hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out two while slipping to 1/3 in four starts against the Pirates this seasonThe Brewers had won 11 of 17 since the Pirates four-game sweep in Milwaukee at the end of August, with home and away series victories over the NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs.NICASIO SETS A FRANCHISE RECORDRHP Juan Nicasio has recorded at least one strikeout in 30 straight appearances, a single-season club record for a Pirates relief pitcher. According to Elias, its the longest such streak in the majors this season and ties Cody Allens record with Cleveland in 2015.FEELING RIGHT AT HOMEMcCutchens two-run double in the first extended his hitting streak to eight games and gave him 48 RBI in 62 career games at Miller Park.GARZA RUNSOpponents have roughed up Garza for 26 runs (16 earned) in his last seven starts. He is 1-4 with a 4.00 ERA over that stretch.NEW BREWERS DADSLF Ryan Braun and C Manny Pina were out of the lineup in order to be with their wives and the newest member of his respective family. Brauns wife, Larisa, gave birth to a son, Greyson Joseph. Pinas wife, Leny, gave birth to a daughter, Jimena. However, Pina pinch hit in the ninth and flied out to end the game. Both players were expected back before the weekend.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: C Chris Stewart underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be out six-to-eight weeks. Dr. James Andrews operated on the 34-year-old catcher in Gulf Shores, Florida. ... LF Starling Marte missed his 15th consecutive game with low back discomfort.Brewers: The Brewers selected the contract of C/1B Josmil Pinto from Triple-A Colorado Springs.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (4-3, 3.97 ERA) makes his 12th major-league start. The 24-year-old right-hander is 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA in one career outing against the Brewers.Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (8-14, 4.42) makes his 10th career start against the Pirates. He is 5-2 with a 3.16 ERA in his previous nine starts, including 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA ibn three starts this season. ' ' '