Phillies acquire Wigginton
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Phillies acquire Wigginton
Daily News Staff
The Phillies have acquired utility man Ty Wigginton from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash.
The acquisition also seemingly means the Phillies have opted not to further pursue free agent Michael Cuddyer.
Wigginton, 34, hit .242 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI last season.
His versatility is what likely made him attractive to the Phillies. He played first base, third base and the corner outfield positions last year.
With the potential question about how quickly Ryan Howard recovers from his Achilles injury and Placido Polanco’s injury history, he could provide insurance in the infield. He also could be an option in left, although that seems less likely. He has played a total of 75 games in the outfield in his 10-year career.
He also could provide the Phillies another bat off the bench. He has a career .273 average as a pinch-hitter.
Wigginton is due to make $4 million in 2012, with a $4 million option or $500,00 buyout for 2013. According to the Denver Post, the Rockies will cover half of Wigginton's 2012 salary.
According to the Post, if the Phillies exercise Wigginton’s option, the Rockies will receive either $100,000 in cash or a player. If they don’t excercise the option, the Rockies will be have to pay part of Wigginton’s buyout.
For his career, he has a .265 average with 158 home runs and 548 RBI. He has played for the Mets, Pirates, Rays, Astros, Orioles and Rockies.
The Phillies are likely still on the lookout for a lefthanded bat who could play the outfield.
- And on the other hand?
— PhightinPhil - He is 34 years old and for last 3 seasons his on base percentage was : .314, .312, and .315. It looks like he will fit right in with rest of the old junk that does not know how to get on base.— VitoCorleone
- I WOULD STILL RESIGN MADSON FOR 8TH INNING AND INS IF PAPOLNON GETS HURT OR SUCKS, SIGN FURCAL FOR 2-3 YEARS, LET J-ROLL WALK,THIS TRADE TODAY COULD MAKE THAT POSSIBLE— VANIMALS SWEATY GOGGLES
- Signing Cuddyer to a huge contract when he is barely better than Wiggington would have been settling.— UncleStosh
- Seems like the Rockies were trying hard to dump him.— Ssteve115
- Depth is a valuable asset. I would like to see a few more of these affordable utility players in lieu of last years bench players.
The #1 priority going forward? LEADOFF HITTER!
No more JRoll trying to hit the ball to Pluto. Just get me a guy who is worried about putting the ball in play, steal some bases, set the table for the rest of the team.
I like J Roll love to have him back but hitting in the 6 or 7 hole where his offensive approach is more suited.
Go get me a leadoff hitter Rube.
— joe smith - @warbuscuit - Career, Wigginton strikes out about 17.5% of the time. Howard is a good 10% higher. Cuddyer is also right around 17.5%.
I'm not saying I'm overly excited. Another mid-30's guy so we're still not getting any younger here, other than probably letting Ibanez walk. But there are things I like about Wigginton. He's played a lot of 3B and 1B, which are two areas he can be used. He's also a guy who has been good as a bench player and pinch hitter, with very little drop-off in his numbers compared to when he starts. That's something I personally look for and like in a guy who figures to be mostly a sub ... as opposed to signing a guy like Ibanez who's never shown he's much of a bench player. He's versatile but it's up to Charlie to make use of that and give some of our older guys a rest.— s - This move tells me Amaro is up to something he knows he has to change this lineup he can't bring the same lineup back so i'm thinking Jose Reyes might be coming here to hit leadoff.— PAPOOSE
- Right handed Greg Dobbs.— Philliesguy
- Old Wiggy doesn't hit much anymore but what else is new with this team. When a MLB player reaches his mid 30's it's what has he done lately and the answer with Wiggy is not much. He hit .285 in 08, .273 in 09, .248 in 10 and .242 last year. The trend line is what it is.— Dull
- @PAPOOSE is probably correct that SS is the only line-up changing move left. Unless RAJ has some trade ideas. A guy like Wigginton doesn't do anything to change the hitting approach. If they re-sign JRoll and he's the lead-off guy I think we can assume the claim of changing approach was either all hot air or RAJ is naive enough to believe they'll change their approach with the same guys in the line-up. I'm still not seeing Reyes as a strong possibility but you never know. That's one way to change the lead-off approach.
— s - This is going to hurt their chances to resign Ibanez at $4M next year. Bookover must be po'd.— Sam Crow
- Upgrade over Michael Martinez at the plate. That has to be worth something— johnny eagle
- It certainly looks that this is a cheap insurance policy on both Howard and Polanco - the Phillies are really only obligated to one year and that gives them flexibility to trade Wiggington at the trade deadline if he is not needed. Not a bad move ! Are the Phillies saying Howard and Polanco are not going to be ready for the start of the season ?
Powder is still dry if they want to make a run for Reyes. It looks less likely every day that passes that Reyes is not going to be a Marlin. Is he waiting for a call from Amaro ?
Hoping Jimmy Rollins gets a multi year deal somewhere else.
Would like to see Hamels locked up for several years - I am afraid if he is not signed soon he will wait for megabucks at the end of 2012 and the Phillies will not have the flexibilty to match some of the offers that may come his way.
Still sick about the resigning of Schneider as the backup catcher. Worst dumb move of the year so far. A bunch of capable catchers out there were available for the the Phillies.— candidly
