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CHICAGO — Reliever Jason Frasor is headed back to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 34-yrear-old righty was traded from the White Sox to Toronto on Sunday, five months after the Blue Jays dealt him to Chicago.

The White Sox got minor league right-handers Myles Jaye and Daniel Webb in this latest swap.

“It felt like I was never coming back. (His July 27 trade) was an emotional day. I think it was the first time I’d cried since I gave up five runs in Atlanta a couple of years ago,” Frasor said.

“It’s hard to believe I’m going back to Toronto. My wife is thrilled, it’s great. What a thrill, I don’t know else what it say, and I can’t wait to put on those new uniforms,” he said during a conference call from his home in Tampa, Fla.

Frasor, from Chicago, was 3-3 with a 3.60 ERA in 64 relief appearances with the White Sox and Toronto last season. Chicago acquired him and pitcher Zach Stewart from the Blue Jays for pitcher Edwin Jackson and infielder-outfielder Mark Teahen in midseason.

Frasor had been the longest serving member of the Blue Jays and left as the franchise leader in games pitched when they traded him. He spent eight seasons — 2004-2011 — with the Blue Jays, posting a 24-28 record in 455 games with 36 saves and a 3.69 ERA.

The 20-year-old Jaye made his professional debut with Advanced Rookie Bluefield of the Appalachian League last season, going 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA in nine starts and four relief appearances. The 22-year-old Webb spent most of last season with Class A Lansing, where he was 4-5 with a 5.59 ERA. He also made one relief appearance with Bluefield.

Frasor said he was confused when he received a text message Sunday morning from Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos. He then received a message from a Jays media relations official asking if he’d be available for an interview.

It wasn’t until he received a call from his agent that learned of the trade.

“Crazy day today, but good news,” Frasor said.

Frasor said he enjoyed his brief stay in Chicago.

“I would have loved going back there, I was there for a couple of months and they were fantastic, great teammates, great people,” Frasor said. “It was a dream come true for my parents, to play for the hometown team and it was interesting for me to play for a different team after being in Toronto for eight years.”

Frasor joins former Chicago teammate and closer Sergio Santos, acquired by Toronto from the White Sox last month.

Frasor is happy he doesn’t have to go far for the Blue Jays’ training camp in Dunedin, Fla., a short drive from his home in Tampa.

“It’s six extra weeks of being at home for me and my family which is huge,” Frasor said.

“It makes it easier for me to prepare for spring training. Now I can go to the complex early, and there’ll be the catchers there, and I can utilize those guys and throw sliders and changeups in the dirt, and get those guys ready for the real thing.”

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TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays have re-acquired pitcher Jason Frasor.

The right-hander spent eight seasons with the Blue Jays before the club dealt him to the Chicago White Sox last July 27. The Sox sent him back to Toronto on Sunday and picked up pitching prospects Daniel Webb and Myles Jaye in return from the Jays.

Frasor made a combined 64 relief appearances for the Jays and White Sox last season, posting a record of 3-4 with a 3.60 earned run average. In his first stint with Toronto, he was 24-28 with 36 saves and a 3.69 ERA in 455 games.

The White Sox will pick up a pair of right-handed hurlers who have not pitched above Class-A ball.

Jaye, who turned 20 on December 28, made his pro debut in 2011 and was 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA at Bluefield of the Appalachian League. Webb, 22, spent most of 2011 with Single-A Lansing and was 4-5 with a 5.48 ERA.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

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Updated Jan 1, 2012 8:01 PM ET

CHICAGO (AP)

Reliever Jason Frasor is headed back to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 34-year-old righty was traded from the White Sox to Toronto on Sunday, five months after the Blue Jays dealt him to Chicago.

The White Sox got minor league right-handers Myles Jaye and Daniel Webb in this latest swap.

”It felt like I was never coming back. (His July 27 trade) was an emotional day. I think it was the first time I’d cried since I gave up five runs in Atlanta a couple of years ago,” Frasor said.

”It’s hard to believe I’m going back to Toronto. My wife is thrilled, it’s great. What a thrill, I don’t know else what it say, and I can’t wait to put on those new uniforms,” he said during a conference call from his home in Tampa, Fla.

It wasn’t until he received a call from his agent that learned of the trade.

”Crazy day today, but good news,” Frasor said.

Frasor said he enjoyed his brief stay in Chicago.

”I would have loved going back there, I was there for a couple of months and they were fantastic, great teammates, great people,” Frasor said. ”It was a dream come true for my parents, to play for the hometown team and it was interesting for me to play for a different team after being in Toronto for eight years.”

Frasor joins former Chicago teammate and closer Sergio Santos, acquired by Toronto from the White Sox last month.

Frasor is happy he doesn’t have to go far for the Blue Jays’ training camp in Dunedin, Fla., a short drive from his home in Tampa.

”It’s six extra weeks of being at home for me and my family which is huge,” Frasor said.

”It makes it easier for me to prepare for spring training. Now I can go to the complex early, and there’ll be the catchers there, and I can utilize those guys and throw sliders and changeups in the dirt, and get those guys ready for the real thing.”

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CHICAGO – Reliever Jason Frasor is headed back to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 34-yrear-old righty was traded from the White Sox to Toronto on Sunday, five months after the Blue Jays dealt him to Chicago.

The White Sox got minor league right-handers Myles Jaye and Daniel Webb in this latest swap.

Frasor had been the longest serving member of the Blue Jays and left as the franchise leader in games pitched when they traded him. He spent eight seasons – 2004-2011 – with the Blue Jays, posting a 24-28 record in 455 games with 36 saves and a 3.69 ERA.

It wasn’t until he received a call from his agent that learned of the trade.

“Crazy day today, but good news,” Frasor said.

Frasor said he enjoyed his brief stay in Chicago.

Frasor joins former Chicago teammate and closer Sergio Santos, acquired by Toronto from the White Sox last month.

Frasor is happy he doesn’t have to go far for the Blue Jays’ training camp in Dunedin, Fla., a short drive from his home in Tampa.

“It’s six extra weeks of being at home for me and my family which is huge,” Frasor said.

There is the quick update of the day.

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TORONTO – The day Jason Frasor walked out of the Toronto Blue Jays’ locker-room, he believed he’d never be back — let alone so soon.

Frasor is returning to the team for which he’s played almost his entire career. Toronto acquired the reliever in a deal with Chicago on Sunday just five months after trading him to the White Sox.

The Jays gave up minor league pitchers Myles Jaye and Daniel Webb in Sunday’s trade.

“It felt like I was never coming back. (His July 27 trade) was an emotional day. I think it was the first time I’d cried since I gave up five runs in Atlanta a couple of years ago,” he said, laughing.

“It’s hard to believe I’m going back to Toronto, my wife is thrilled, it’s great. What a thrill, I don’t know else what it say, and I can’t wait to put on those new uniforms,” he added, during a conference call from his home in Tampa, Fla.

Frasor was 3-3 with a 3.60 ERA in 64 relief appearances with Chicago and Toronto last season.

The 34-year-old right-hander had been the longest serving member of the team and left as the franchise leader in games pitched when the Jays sent him to Chicago along with pitcher Zach Stewart for pitcher Edwin Jackson and infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen.

Frasor, a Chicago native, spent eight seasons — 2004-2011 — with the Blue Jays, posting a 24-28 record in 455 games with 36 saves and a 3.69 ERA.

Frasor, who enjoyed a relatively quiet New Year’s Eve of pizza and beer, said he was confused when he received a text message Sunday morning from Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos. He then received a message from a Jays media relations official asking if he’d be available for an interview.

It wasn’t until he received a call from his agent that learned of the trade.

“Crazy day today, but good news,” Frasor said from his home in Tampa, Fla.

Frasor said he enjoyed his brief stay in Chicago.

Frasor joins former Chicago teammate and closer Sergio Santos, who the Jays acquired from the White Sox last month.

“I think you guys are really going to like him,” Frasor said of Santos. “I can’t believe Alex pulled him away from Chicago first of all, and for me to go back there and hopefully set him up again, it’s great.”

Frasor is happy he doesn’t have to go far for Jays training camp in Dunedin, Fla., a short drive from his home in Tampa, Fla.

“It’s six extra weeks of being at home for me and my family which is huge,” Frasor said.

The 20-year-old Jaye, meanwhile, made his professional debut with Advanced Rookie Bluefield of the Appalachian League last season, going 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA in nine starts and four relief appearances.

The 22-year-old Webb spent most of last season with class-A Lansing, where he was 4-5 with a 5.59 ERA. He also made one relief appearance with Bluefield.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

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TSN The Sports Network

The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a minor-league contract with left-hander Aaron Laffey and invited him to spring training.

Laffey was 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 47 relief appearances for Seattle and the New York Yankees last season.

He held left-handed batters to a .242 average.

The Blue Jays have also signed on Saturday right-handers Jerry Gil, Garret Mock and Robert Coello, and shortstop Brian Bocock to minor-league contracts and invited them to spring training.

What do you guys think about this.

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TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a minor league contract with left-hander Aaron Laffey and invited him to spring training.

Laffey was 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 47 relief appearances for Seattle and the New York Yankees last season. He held left-handed batters to a .242 average.

The Blue Jays have also signed on Saturday right-handers Jerry Gil, Garret Mock and Robert Coello, and shortstop Brian Bocock to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

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TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays have waded into free agency for the first time this off-season, nearing an agreement with reliever Darren Oliver while signing fellow left-hander Aaron Laffey on Friday.

The moves come in what has thus far been a quiet winter for general manager Alex Anthopoulos, whose biggest transaction to date has been the acquisition of closer Sergio Santos from the Chicago White Sox for pitching prospect Nestor Molina.

They are also the club’s first player additions since their posting bid for Japanese ace Yu Darvish fell short and the Texas Rangers won his negotiating rights, much to the chagrin of a restive fan base.

The pending contract with Oliver is believed to be for a year plus an option according to a source who added that final details were still being worked out. The move isn’t very splashy, but provides manager John Farrell with another weapon with which to attack the AL East’s tough left-handed hitters.

Rookie Luis Perez was the team’s primary, and often only, southpaw in the bullpen in 2011.

A 41-year-old veteran of 18 big-league seasons, Oliver was 5-5 with a 2.29 earned-run average in 51 innings over 61 games for the Rangers last season. He held lefties to a .227 batting average while righties facing him managed only a .243 mark.

He’ll need to take a physical before the signing can be completed, something unlikely to happen before next week.

Laffey, 26, signed with the Blue Jays, according to another source, after being cut loose by the Kansas City Royals earlier this month. Originally chosen in the 16th round by Cleveland in 2003, he rose through the Indians ranks while Farrell was the club’s player development director and the two know each other well.

In a combined 47 games of relief for the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees last year, Laffey was 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA over 53.1 innings. Lefties batted .242 against him while righties hit him at a .358 clip.

The Blue Jays will give him an opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting rotation at spring training – Laffey was a starter during his first three big-league seasons – but he may end up back in the bullpen.

While the moves should help the bullpen, the heavy lifting remains for Anthopoulos, who is still seeking to add a frontline starter via trade, and perhaps a bat.

Shi Davidi is the MLB Insider for sportsnet.ca. Come back to read his insight and opinion regularly.

Thanks for visiting my blog =).

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The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed left-handed pitcher Darren Oliver to a one-year deal, pending a physical.

Oliver, an 18-year MLB veteran, was the Texas Rangers top southpaw the past two seasons and in 2011 he posted a 2.29 ERA in 61 games (51 innings) with a 1.137 WHIP and 44 strikeouts.

Oliver would give the Blue Jays a veteran left-handed option in their bullpen in addition to the talented, yet inconsistent, Luis Perez.

In each of the past three seasons Oliver has lowered his ERA. He earned $3,250,000 in 2011.

On Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, citing two major league sources, reported the Blue Jays were close to signing the 41-year-old lefty.

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The grumbling amongst Blue Jays followers is starting to turn into a dull roar.

Since the end of a 81-81, fourth place—again—season general manager Alex Anthopoulos has picked up the closer his team needs going forward in Sergio Santos; a light-hitting, defensive catcher in Jeff Mathis; outfield depth in Ben Francisco and infield bench depth in the form of Luis Valbuena. The cost has been limited, with the biggest loss being highly-touted pitching prospect Nestor Molina.

Throughout this off-season the Jays have been rumoured – from outside the organization – to have been in on talks to acquire Gio Gonzalez, Andrew Bailey, Mat Latos and now they are said to be in on Jair Jurrjens. The hang up to date has been Anthopoulos’ unwillingness to dip heavily into the vast prospect pool that he has accumulated since taking over as general manager in 2009. At some point however, he’s going to have to fish or cut bait on a number of these young players if he’s ever going to fill the holes on his 25-man roster.

As it stands, the Blue Jays list of top prospects is pitching heavy, with arms taking up seven of their top 10 according to Baseball America. One of those, right-hander Noah Syndergaard (No. 7 according to BA) was reportedly requested by the Athletics in trade talks involving Gonzalez. Toronto could also dangle a couple of former top prospects in pitcher Kyle Drabek and outfielder Travis Snider, both of whom have seen their stock drop as they were passed on the organizational depth chart. It’s not that both aren’t in the team’s immediate plans, but 2012 might very well be a make-or-break season for these two youngsters.

The top three position player prospects according to BA, catcher Travis d’Arnaud and outfielders Anthony Gose and Jake Marisnick, are about as untouchable as you can get. Catchers with d’Arnaud’s skill set don’t come along very often. Gose and Marisnick are both projected as everyday starters over the next three years and the fact that the club still doesn’t fully know what they have in Snider and current centre fielder Colby Rasmus will keep the two prospect’s stocks high.

Five of the pitchers on the list – Justin Nicolino, Aaron Sanchez, Deck McGuire, Syndergaard and Asher Wojciechowski – were drafted in 2010 and have blasted through the minor league system. They will also represent a wave of pitching that should arrive in Toronto around the same time, and combined with current Jays Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow and Henderson Alvarez, should give the team a formidable pitching staff. Also factor in 20-year-old right-hander Drew Hutchison, who played at three levels in 2011 and put up eye-popping numbers – 1.04 WHIP, 10.3 K’s/9 IP and 4.9 K/BB. Of all the prospects, I feel he has the chance to be the top of the rotation arm they crave.

But at some point a couple of these arms will flatline. It’s inevitable. It will be up to Anthopoulos and his staff to decide who should stay and who should be used in trade talks. Right now, I can’t see where any of these youngsters should be involved in deals, unless someone like Tim Lincecum or Felix Hernandez is coming the other way.

Fans might not like to hear this, but I feel that the Jays are going to be quite inactive the rest of the off-season. Anthopoulos has a long-term plan for this franchise, with sustained playoff contention being the ultimate goal. It makes the most sense. He may surprise because we never really know what he’s working on but with the names that have come off the board recently, I’d be shocked if anything else of substance is done.

If we learned anything from the wheel-spinning Ricciardi, it’s that a plan never seemed to be in place, and if there was one, it morphed from year-to-year. And while most of us hoped that the team would dip into the free agent pool, let’s remember how a lot of money was wasted over the last decade on the likes of B.J. Ryan and A.J. Burnett and how it took Anthopoulos over two years to fix it.

Yes, Prince Fielder would be an excellent addition to the middle of the Jays lineup, but not at the term and amount of money that Scott Boras is trying to secure for his client. That was never part of Anthopoulos’ vision.

What this all points to is another fourth place finish, something not a lot of you want to hear. Trading away any of the players that they have scouted heavily and brought into the fold doesn’t make any sense with the team being far away from contention. And I don’t remember hearing anyone in the front office say that 2012 was their year to contend anyway.

Stats man Scott Carson is now in his 19th season as “third man in the booth” during Blue Jays telecasts.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

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The Toronto Blue Jays have placed reliever Jon Rauch on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to September 5, and he is likely done for the season.

The 6-foot-10, 32-year-old right-hander suffered a right-knee cartilage tear and will consult a knee specialist in Colorado to ascertain whether surgery is recommended. The recovery process could take at least six weeks.

The Jays had just activated Rauch from the 15-day disabled list on the first day of September.

Rauch had his appendix removed in August after feeling discomfort in his stomach. Rauch went 5-4 with a 4.85 ERA and saves 11 in 16 chances. He also gave up 11 home runs in 52 innings and had a 10.81 ERA in his last seven appearances. The Jays still must decide whether to exercise a US$3.75-million option to keep Rauch in 2012.

Toronto should get centre-fielder Colby Rasmus back from a wrist injury this week. Rasmus was 0-for-7 in two games as a DH with Double-A New Hampshire over the weekend.

Not a lot else going on in the MLB world today.

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Joseph Hall

Sports Reporter

So the Jays bid goodbye to their shot at Yu Darvish, with the Texas Rangers winning the sweepstakes to woo the star Japanese pitcher.

While the Toronto lost the quarry, however, they proved they’re in the hunt for expensive talent, having presumably bid somewhere close to the $51.7 million Texas paid for negotiating rights to the Nippon Ham Fighters’ fire baller.

With money to burn, here are five things the club could do with that disposable cash.

Prince Fielder: Go after the king of this year’s free agent crop — the rotund Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder. The Brewers’ first baseman and his 50 home run potential would provide perfect protection for Jose Bautista. He’s reportedly looking for a monster contract, in the range of $20 million a year, though, for 10 seasons.

Carlos Beltran: What about Carlos Beltran, a veteran who may spend a year or two with the club as a cheaper than Fielder bat to protect Bautista?

Javier Vazquez: Strike out after a free agent pitcher. Tough there’s thin gruel left here, the likes of Javier Vazquez and Edwin Jackson are still available.

Gio Gonzalez: Trade some highly regarded prospects for a proven veteran with power – or an arm. Both president Paul Beeston and GM Alex Anthopolous have said they’d rather trade up for pitchers like Gio Gonzalez or Matt Garza than break the bank on free agency.

Joey Votto: Stand pat and wait for the likes of Toronto native Joey Votto to come available in a couple of years and let their promising squad mature.

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Read More: yu darvish, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Texas Rangers may have beat out the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs for Japan’s top free agent, Yu Darvish:

The Cubs have reportedly placed a bid on the 25-year-old righty, but the latest reports suggest the two biggest bids were from the Rangers and Blue Jays.

Olney also suggests the Blue Jays may have not won the bidding because they pushed hard for now-Cincinnati Reds pitcher Matt Latos recently. Had the Jays won the bid, they would have presumably withdrawn from the Latos trade talks sooner.

The MLB and the Nippon Ham Fighters are expected to announce the winning club Monday night.

For more updates on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Also, check out MLB Daily Dish for Cubs rumors and transactions.

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NEW YORK — Reliever Frank Francisco has signed a two-year contract with the New York Mets.

The 32-year-old Francisco went 1-4 with 17 saves and a 3.55 ERA in 54 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. The right-hander has appeared in 50 or more games in each of the last five years. He had 25 saves with the Rangers in 2009.

Francisco is 18-19 with a 3.72 ERA with 368 strikeouts in 334 innings in seven years with Texas and Toronto.

The deal was announced Monday.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

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Christmas could come early for fans of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The agent for Japanese pitching sensation Yu Darvish sent out a tweet on Monday morning saying an announcement will be made on the winning bid at around 9pm et.

Don Nomura tweeted that the announcement will be made late Tuesday morning, Japan time.

Earlier reports indicated the Blue Jays made the highest bid for the negotiating rights for Darvish, a bid that could be in the neighbourhood of $50 million.

The Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are all believed to have made a bid for Darvish’s services.

Darvish’s Japanese team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have until 5pm et on Tuesday to accept or reject the highest bid but they do not know the identity of that team.

Should the Jays have the highest bid and it is accepted, they would have 30 days to work out a deal. If they can’t sign him, the Jays would then have their bid money returned.

The 25-year-old Darvish has a lifetime record of 93-38 with a 1.99 ERA in Japan.

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Yu Darvish of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. (Getty Images)

Tribune news services

12:42 p.m. CST, December 16, 2011

The Toronto Blue Jays reportedly have posted a bid close to $50 million for the negotiating rights to Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, according to the New York Post.

The Cubs also reportedly submitted a bid, but there is no word on the dollar amount.

Several sources with knowledge of the situation told the Post’s George A. King III that the Blue Jays made the bid on orders from owner Rogers Communications.

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Home : Pleased to meet Yu? Jays bid big for hurler: reports

Pleased to meet Yu? Jays bid big for hurler: reports

Josh Visser, ctvtoronto.ca

Date: Friday Dec. 16, 2011 10:18 AM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays have made a massive bid for Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish and may have won negotiating rights to sign him, according to a report.

The New York Post says the Jays are believed to have made an offer in excess of $40 million US for Darvish, outbidding the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees.

The Post says the Jays made the bid on orders from Roger Communications. Darvish, a massive star in Japan, could be a marketing goldmine.

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have until 5 p.m. Tuesday EST to accept or reject the highest bid for their star player.

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has been characteristically mum on the subject. He personally scouted Darvish last year in Japan.

If the Jays won the bid, they would have 30 days to sign the 6’5, 215-pound pitcher to a deal. It is believed Darvish is seeking a five-year, $70-million deal.

Darvish, 25, holds a 93-38 career record with a 1.99 earned run average in the Japanese league.

While unproven in the MLB, Darvish could solidify the top of the Jays rotation, along with ace Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow.

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The Toronto Blue Jays may be in position to win the Yu Darvish sweepstakes.

According to the New York Post, the Blue Jays are believed to have made the highest bid for the negotiating rights to the highly touted starting pitcher from Japan.

The report indicates the Blue Jays made a bid of more than $40 million and maybe even close to $50 million.

The Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are all believed to have bid for Darvish’s services.

Darvish’s Japanese team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have until 5pm et on Tuesday to accept or reject the highest bid but they do not know the identity of that team.

Should the Jays have the highest bid and it is accepted, they would have 30 days to work out a deal. If they can’t sign him, the Jays would then have their bid money returned.

The 25-year-old Darvish has a lifetime record of 93-38 with a 1.99 ERA in Japan.

“He is making $6 million a year in Japan on the field, close to that off the field,” a scout from a team that did not post a bid told the newspaper. “So you are starting at $12 million a year over here. I would say five years for $75 million is about right.”

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The Toronto Blue Jays have signed catcher Jeff Mathis and right-handed pitchers Jesse Litsch and Dustin McGowan to one-year contracts.

All three players were eligible for arbitration. Mathis will earn $1.5 million US in 2012, Litsch will make $975,000, while McGowan gets $600,000.

Mathis had three home runs, 22 RBIs and a .174 batting average in 93 games with the Los Angeles Angels last season.

Litsch went 6-3 with a 4.44 ERA in 28 games with Toronto last season.

McGowan, meanwhile, made his return to the lineup late in the season after undergoing two shoulder surgeries. He had not appeared in a game since 2008 and finished 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in five games.

The Blue Jays made a series of other moves Monday, claiming right-hander Jim Hoey off waivers from Minnesota, outrighting catcher Brian Jeroloman and right-hander Drew Carpenter to triple-A Las Vegas and designating right-hander Jesse Chavez for assignment.

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