Eaton Alive?
Adam Eaton's chances to make the team out of spring training?
Eaton Alive?
Todd Zolecki
Adam Eaton's chances to make the team out of spring training?
Slim to none.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke candidly today at Citizens Bank Park about the competition for the fifth spot in the team's rotation.
"It's a four-man competition," Amaro said. "[Eaton] isn't involved in it. We just feel the other four would have a better opportunity to help us."
The other four are Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ, Carlos Carrasco and Chan Ho Park. Eaton is 14-18 with a 6.09 ERA in two seasons with the Phillies.
I think most people had seen this coming months ago. Eaton not only pitched terribly last season, he pitched even worse in the minor leagues. To explain his poor performance in the minor leagues (0-5 with a 7.02 ERA in seven starts in single-A Lakewood, double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley), Eaton explained in September that he wasn't asked to go out, pitch well and win games in the minor leagues. But it's clear the Phillies didn't buy that explanation or care much for his performance. During the NLDS, the Phillies sent pitchers to Florida to stay sharp in case of injury, then invited those pitchers back for the NLCS and World Series to watch the games from the dugout. Eaton declined to pitch in Florida and went home.
Eaton will make $8.5 million this season, plus a $500,000 buyout on a club option for 2010. That contract makes him nearly impossible to trade. The Phillies tried to give him away during the winter meetings, eating all but $1 million of his salary, but found no takers.
If he can't be traded, Eaton could be released before the season starts.
Regardless, it's safe to say he's one of the biggest busts in Phillies history.
*
Amaro has contacted free agent Ty Wigginton about a bench job. Nomar Garciaparra, Moises Alou, Rich Aurilia, Mark Grudzielanek and Kevin Millar also interest the Phils.
*
Chase Utley said that being ready for opening day remains a realistic goal.
The difference between Jenkins and Eaton is that Jenkins plays hard and is a good team player, he's just over the hill. Eaton is a total head case.— KMG- I would love to see Ruben Amaro, Jr fire Eaton and NOT pay him. Let Eaton sue and then see if the athletes deserve the money. They were hired to do a certain job at a certain level and in this case and many others, they did not. They, if effect, violated their contracts. If this can go through and the athletes are in effect on commission, it can bring down ticket prices and fans will then get to see athletes at their best. Everyone wins except the freeloaders!— Fred Glick
- Eaton was a bust the day we signed him. No way he was worth that kind of money.... dude has never been able to put it together.— DCExpat
- Davegas: I hope you have a strong stomach because Eaton, as a member of the Phillies 40-man roster for the entire season, got a full World Series winner's share and will get his ring next spring too. Also, if the Phillies release him, they owe him all $9 million next year regardless of whether another team signs him or not. He will actually make that $9M PLUS whatever that other team feels he is worth paying. If the Phillies were to put him on waivers and he was claimed, the Phillies would be off the hook for his contract, but that's obviously not gonna happen. He's getting $9 million from the Phillies in this year no matter what. If it makes you feel better, the Yankees paid Carl Pavano $40 million over 4 years and got nine wins. At least Eaton averaged seven wins over the first two years.— dmeloche1
- Neal, you're right, but it's worth noting that a lot of fans in this town also lost patience with Floyd and called for him to be traded too. It's funny how none of those people are around these days to take responsibility for what they said.— sil campusano
- Maybe the Mets will sign him to a minor league contract after next season so that he can join Fred Garcia on their AAA roster. Speaking of the Mets, gag-gag-gag, sorry about that, let me wipe this vomitus off my chin, first. The two reliever acquisitions (Rodriquez and Putz) have drawn some curiously mild, and, yes, relieved reactions from the respective fan base of the Angels and Mariners. A peek at their late season pitching performances would prove enlightening. I did see one game wherein Ibanez came close to decapitating Rodriquez with laser shot through the box. Quite amusing. Perhaps these signings will prove as disastrous as the Phils Eaton/Helms deals. One can only hope.— jp
- He struggle a few years before the Phils signed him. He had health problems for years. That is why teams scratched their heads and chuckled when the Phils signed him as a free agent. Remember, the Phils were the main team interested in him. Other teams knew he was a big risk. Surprise! His demise continued as a Phillie. ----- Oh, yes, now I remember----- As I remember the Phillies had a tough decision to make. They had to male a tough decision between Adam Eaton and the emergence of a thinned and well rested Joe Cowley. ...just kidding.
- All this talk about a righthanded bat off a five man bench--catcher, Bruntlet, Dobbs, Stairs, Jenkins. Will they eat Jenkins' salary, also?— l.a.ford
- Ford- assuming no injuries in the spring they'll probably trade Stairs because he has a $1M contract. Fred- we're going to pay Eaton, how do you think other potential free agents would look at the Phils if they weren't going to honor deals they make?— KMG
- My favorite comment was in the minors, Eaton wasn't "asked to go out, pitch well and win games." Duh! What did Eaton thing he was suppose to do? Go 0 for 5 with a 7 plus ERA? It's laughable.— pajamas
- Eaton was a waste of time and money. Lets just move on....I like Kendrick, but I hope Happ wins that spot, with Carrasco a close 2nd— Clinton, NJ
- Whenever I get bummed about all of the money allocated to Eaton, I comfort myself by thinking about the $46.6M the Mets paid Mo Vaughn for the 29 homeruns he hit for them. Try it. It works.— NJLouis66
- Eaton/Helms/Garcia are on the OTHER side of Gillick's gambles. The ones that (obviously) didn't pay off. Fortunately, the winning side gave us Victorino, Werth, Lidge, Dobbs and, oh yeah, a World F'n Championship. Yes, Eaton is worthless, but since we did win last year, I won't lose any sleep over it. Eventually, all contracts come to an end. Abreu, anyone?— Sully
- Eaton is a head case that shouldn't be in the majors. The fact that he gained any form of employment is a mystery. Still, a World Series victory changes your perspective. Let him go; if any other team picks him up, good luck to them...— MrSinatra
- If I recall when the Phils wanted to send Brett Myers to the minors lat year they had to ask his permission. Apparently it was written into his contract that the Phils would need his permission. Probably the same thing with Eaton's contract. He didn't want to go to Florida so he couldn't be forced to do it. If the Phils could find a way of not paying him they surely would, but they can't. They should just release him. We don't need his bad vibes hanging around.— James TL
