Wilson Valdez Swapped for Reds Lefty Reliever
The Phillies announced today that they traded infielder (and pitcher) Wilson Valdez to the Cincinnati Reds for left-hander Jeremy Horst . Horst will be in Major League Spring Training as a non-roster player, according to the Phillies, who now have two open spots on their 40-man roster.
From MLBTraderumors…
Valdez, 33, posted a .249/.294/.341 line in 300 plate appearances for the Phillies in 2011, playing second, third and short. He even pitched an inning, picking up a win against the Reds in May. He’ll earn $930K in 2012.
Horst made his MLB debut in 2011, posting a 2.93 ERA with a 9K/6BB ratio in 15 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old also posted a 2.81 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 51 1/3 innings at Triple-A last year.
Video Blog Coming Soon!
Here is a little teaser for my upcoming Video Blog!
I’m looking for some topics to discuss, pictures to show, questions to answer… Send me some stuff!!
Thanks for a great 2011!
My blog was again selected to MLB.com’s Top 100 Blogs…. And I have you to thank for it… So…
THANK YOU!!!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for my blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 14,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 5 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Rollins Signs… So Now What?
You really have to give Ruben Amaro Jr. a lot of credit for sticking to his guns when it comes to his negotiations with Jimmy Rollins. RAJ has dazzled us plenty of times, but also scares the crap out us with his wild spending. He signed Jimmy at a great price. One that was fair to Jimmy, and the organization. This deal at least makes me feel a little better about overpaying for Jonathan Papelbon. Don’t get me wrong, I think Pap will be great, but we probably could have gotten him for a pinch less. Just look at how the market for Ryan Madson has crumbled.
So now that Jimmy is signed, what will the Phillies do now? Will there be another splash?
I really don’t think so.
Ruben Amaro told the media at Jimmy Rollins’ Presser that he is happy with the team that he has headed into Spring Training, and if you look at the free agents that are still out there, who would you even want? The only major free agent that the Phillies were even tied to recently was Michael Cuddyer who has signed with the Colorado Rockies.
Continue reading here.
Jimmy Rollins Agrees to Three-Year Deal
The Phillies waited it out and got what they wanted…. Jimmy Rollins agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with a vesting option for a fourth season. It appears as if the fourth year is pretty attainable at $11MM, so it’s basically about how healthy he can remain.
As the market crumbled around him Rollins was left without many choices as his 5-year demand was just too high. In the end I think he made the right choice, and I’m happy that he’ll be back. With the caliber of the starters that we have, and the questions with the offense, we need solid defense, and that’s exactly what Jimmy provides.
It would have been difficult for us to see Jimmy in another team’s uniform, and thankfully now we won’t have to. Here’s hoping that Rollins can be a Phillie for life.
A Fan’s Letter to Jimmy Rollins…
Dear Jimmy,
First let me open up by saying that I am extremely grateful for the efforts that you have made in the past to the team that I love, and in the commumity that I live in. Your charitable efforts have blessed so many children in the community. From your efforts with Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania, to your involvement in the RBI program. You have helped so many children in our area and we are forever in your debt. Thank you.
So let’s get to the reason that I’m writing this letter to you. Sure, I’m a sports writer, but I’m also a Phillies fan. I follow you on Twitter, and I’m sure you’re pleased to know we’re friends on Facebook. I’ve worn your #11 jersey on my back, and I have your bobblehead on my writing desk. You’re my Shortstop. You’re our Shortstop, and I’d like to keep it that way.
Be sure to keep up to date with the Phillies this off-season, and follow me on Twitter.
Winter Moves
It’s cold outside, but the Hot Stove is still burning…
As exciting as the Winter can be, I like to find time to myself during the off-season, and step away from the blogs and enjoy some of it as a fan, so for those of you who have reached out to me – Rest assured I’m not going anywhere.
***
I’m excited by the move to sign Dontrelle Willis. D-Train is not exactly the pitcher that he used to be, but he will be really servicible out of the bullpen provided that he continues to dominate left-handed hitters. Last season Dontrelle but held lefties to a .127 average with Cincinnati.
I wouldn’t expect him to start any games (unless there is an injury to a starter) because of his high walk rate, and his struggles with right-handed hitters. This is a low-risk/high reward move, and I like it. Dontrelle is an energetic character and a good clubhouse guy, not to mention a good buddy of one Jimmy Rollins. Philadelphia is a good place for D-Train. He is surrounded by plenty of A list pitchers, and he knows that he isn’t competing for a starting spot.
For a $1MM I think that Ruben found himself a pretty serviceable lefty for the pen.
Keep up with me on Twitter…
Proven Smoke in the 9th
As you know by now Ruben Amaro Jr. has made another splash in the free agent market inking closer Jonathan Papelbon to a 4-year, $50 million dollar contract. I’m pretty thrilled to have a closer that throws gas like Pap, the length of the deal scares me a bit.
I’m pretty mixed when it comes to taking Pap over Ryan Madson. Sure, Papelbon has been closing for years in Boston and has a pretty solid track record, but he relies pretty heavily on his fastball, and I worry that in a few years when his velocity dips we’re going to be upset that we have a guy that throws mostly fastballs. Ryan Madson had a repertoire of pitches to work with, but that does not mean that he would have any more success in the end. It’s pretty well documented that guys who throw hard like Pap do, tend to have a tougher time lasting into September and October as they age.
So we’ll see, and time will tell…
Pap does have the edge when comparing the two, having been Boston’s everyday closer. 219 saves (37 per year average) over the past six seasons with a 2.33 career ERA. 2011 probably was the best year of Papelbon’s career. He was 4-1 with a 2.94 ERA in 63 games, converting 31 save opportunities in 34 chances. However he blew a pretty big save at the end of the season for the Red Sox that knocked the Sox from playoff contention. (To be fair the whole team played like garbage down the stretch)
Madson converted 32 saves for the Phillies in 2011, but only started to fill in as the closer in May after Jose Contreras went down with an injury. He does appear to be on the upswing.
With the Aces we have on the mound, I’m just happy the Phillies have a sound closer locked up for some time.
Madson Talks Heating Up?
Well, so they say.
It seems that the Phillies seem to value a few things heavier then their talks with Jimmy Rollins. Last night there were multiple reports that the Phillies are getting a little more “aggressive,” and honestly I feel they have to.
You can’t have three aces like Halladay, Hamels, and Lee going eight strong innings an have some goofball come out for the ninth and blow it… These three deserve a legitimate, slam the door, closer.
Todd Zolecki reported last night that he gets the feeling that if the Phillies can’t work something out with Madson then they will look at names like Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell, and Joe Nathan.
That was reaffirmed by a few others in then know…
Ryan is also drawing some interest from the Red Sox, Nationals, Rangers and Marlins. The Rangers have thoughts of putting Neftali Feliz into their starting rotation, and the Red Sox are unsure if they are going to be able to retain Jonathan Papelbon. The Marlins and Nationals are basically linked to every free-agent out there, so I wouldn’t put too much stock into that.
Oswalt Wants a Multiyear Deal
From MLBTR…
The agent for Roy Oswalt told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that the right-hander is healthy and “definitely looking for a long-term contract” this offseason. Bob Garber said Oswalt feels “great,” even after two back-related stints on the disabled list in 2011.
Oswalt, 34, made 23 starts and completed 139 innings in 2011, posting a 3.69 ERA with 6.0 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 and a 45.1% ground ball rate for the Phillies. His average fastball velocity dropped to 91.4 mph, however. Oswalt is a Type A free agent, but it would be a surprise if the Phillies offer arbitration, so it seems unlikely that Oswalt will cost teams a draft pick.
Well, you can be certain that he won’t be getting that from Philadelphia. Move along Roy, move along.
Tell me what you think