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.
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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.
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Chase Utley said that being ready for opening day remains a realistic goal.
Looks like they will have to give Eaton $9 million to go away. That's still will not break a Pa. professional baseball team record. The Pirates had to give Matt Morris $11 million to go away last year.— Dull- I thought the pay-out was a done deal.— Norma
- Just another example of how pitchers can get real bad, real fast as they get old....Morris for the Pirates and Eaton for the Phils.....probably Zito for SF in the next year or two.....and more to follow....in the case of Eaton, probably never was very good....— Mark1npt
- The great irony here is that it was the acquisitions of Eaton and Freddy Garcia in off-season moves after '06 that, at least in part, helped embolden Jimmy Rollins to claim the Phillies were the "team to beat" in February, 2007. The Phils have gone on to back up Rollins' words with maybe their best two-season period in franchise history with virtually zero contribution from either big signing. Now Garcia is a Mets' minor leaguer and Eaton is a white elephant. Go figure.— NJLouis66
- "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." That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. Sure Adam, we love it when our minor league pitchers go out and lob 84 MPH meatballs over the plate.— KMG
- The signing of Eaton was regarded at the time as being a bad signing. He was coming off injuries with the Rangers and it was questioned why anyone would give Eaton that money in the first place. Spending money is one thing, but doing it wisely is another. But hey, why should we complain, we only won the world series after all. Whats a few million dollars compared to that?— spin cycle
- The signing of Eaton was regarded at the time as being a bad signing. He was coming off injuries with the Rangers and it was questioned why anyone would give Eaton that money in the first place. Spending money is one thing, but doing it wisely is another. But hey, why should we complain, we only won the world series after all. Whats a few million dollars compared to that?— spin cycle
- Eaton declined to pitch in Florida and went home??????? OMG what a country...— garyhod
- suggests forcing him to pitch in A ball every day as mop up man, just to force him to live on road in lousey hotels, eat greasy food and have a miserable 7 months. He deserves whatever hell we can give him— jeff gross
- Does Eaton have some clause in his contract that allows him to disobey his employer? It's not like they asked him to mop floors (no offense to people who mop floors), they asked him to pitch. If he's told to pitch in Florida to stay sharp, how can he just say "no" and go home? Or is it a union thing? Because he's a veteran he has the right to refuse certain assignments? For the money he gets he should do what his boss says.— NJLouis66
Comment removed.- Please Phillies check further. If he refused the Florida assignment let's get out of this contract without paying him. Void! Void! Void!— BigDogGoneFishN
- The biggest bust in Phillies history may turn out to be Freddy Garcia, not just because he pitched so poorly and was so expensive, but mainly because the Phillies lost Gavin Floyd in the deal. Floyd now looks like the pitcher the Phillies drafted, but they lost patience and dealt him away for a shot pitcher--way to go, Pat Gillick! And, by the way, Garcia's velocity had been noticeably down the previous season; as soon as I heard about the trade, alarm bells began ringing.— Neal Obstat
- Words can't describe how glad I am that the Phils only pay Eaton one more year. Jenkins contract is almost as bad.— ronin32
- "Just another example of how pitchers can get real bad, real fast" Eaton was never good to begin with...— gilbyrocks
