Post by el_duderino on Mar 31, 2009 19:25:38 GMT -5
Hurray for Todd Zolecki (who's twitter - twitter.com/tzolecki - I'll now be following), for he is the Phillies beat writer on MLB.com with the news. This blurb on MLB.com sums up basically everything from today - mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090331&content_id=4096232&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.
To summarize, Chan Ho Park has been named the 5th starter. He's pitched well enough in Spring Training to earn the spot (probably a tie with Haap, and the tie goes to the guy you signed during the off-season and promised a legit shot). He'll likely be on a short leash. Happ is fighting for one of the remaining bullpen spots.
Geoff Jenkins was cut today - that's another $8mil we have to pay with no player behind it (add the $9mil from Eaton and the last 3mil to CWS for Thome). But it's probably best - he was the odd-man-out of sorts being yet another lefty outfielder. Article also details that we've reached out to recently released Gary Sheffield. It would be a great add, giving us the righty bat off the bench. But as is always the case, the price tag will be the big factor. He hasn't made less than $9mil/yr since 1997. For a guy in a downward spiral and will be used mostly off the bench, anything over $5mil will likely be an overpayment.
Edit: philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090331&content_id=4095750&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi - Zolecki is reporting that we're also interested in Andruw Jones. If I had a choice, I'll take Sheff in a heartbeat. Also, I forgot that with a released player, the Phillies will sign him for $400k (Detroit has to pay the remaining $13.6mil of the contract). At that price, Sheff is a great bench player to grab - if he can still play OF, then he'll be a good plug-in when needed. But a power righty on the bench will be huge.
To summarize, Chan Ho Park has been named the 5th starter. He's pitched well enough in Spring Training to earn the spot (probably a tie with Haap, and the tie goes to the guy you signed during the off-season and promised a legit shot). He'll likely be on a short leash. Happ is fighting for one of the remaining bullpen spots.
Geoff Jenkins was cut today - that's another $8mil we have to pay with no player behind it (add the $9mil from Eaton and the last 3mil to CWS for Thome). But it's probably best - he was the odd-man-out of sorts being yet another lefty outfielder. Article also details that we've reached out to recently released Gary Sheffield. It would be a great add, giving us the righty bat off the bench. But as is always the case, the price tag will be the big factor. He hasn't made less than $9mil/yr since 1997. For a guy in a downward spiral and will be used mostly off the bench, anything over $5mil will likely be an overpayment.
Edit: philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090331&content_id=4095750&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi - Zolecki is reporting that we're also interested in Andruw Jones. If I had a choice, I'll take Sheff in a heartbeat. Also, I forgot that with a released player, the Phillies will sign him for $400k (Detroit has to pay the remaining $13.6mil of the contract). At that price, Sheff is a great bench player to grab - if he can still play OF, then he'll be a good plug-in when needed. But a power righty on the bench will be huge.
