[Illusion]

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies and free agent reliever Tom Gordon agreed to a three-year, $18-million contract Thursday night, according to a baseball official familiar with the negotiations.

The Yankees and another team, believed to be Texas, made a late run at signing Gordon. But when the Phillies offered to guarantee him a third year and allow him to go back to closing, that apparently sealed the deal.

Earlier in the day, according to a source, Gordon met personally with Phillies GM Pat Gillick, two days after he'd had lunch in Florida with manager Charlie Manuel.

Gordon, 38, served as Mariano Rivera's primary setup man in New York the past two seasons. He was 5-4 with a 2.57 ERA and two saves in 2005.

Over the last two seasons, Gordon has allowed just 6.08 hits per nine innings. Among relief pitchers who worked at least 140 innings, only two were more unhittable -- Francisco Rodriguez (5.71) and Joe Nathan (5.94). Among prominent closers who ranked behind Gordon: Brad Lidge (6.26), Rivera (6.59) and B.J. Ryan (6.75).

[bigboydan]

this guy was washed up 3 years ago imo... and now the phillies are gonna make him there closer WTF

[Senator7]

The Yanks had better wrap up Farnsworth quickly after this.