Moyer Signs Two-Year Deal
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Moyer Signs Two-Year Deal
Todd Zolecki
The Phillies have signed Jamie Moyer to a two-year contract extension.
Both years are guaranteed, meaning there is no club option for 2010.
"We're very pleased to have Jamie back," Ruben Amaro Jr. said today. "He's been a valuable piece of the puzzle for us, and obviously gives us some more starting pitching depth. He was a goal for us from the outset."
Moyer will be 48 when his contract expires.
"There's no question it's a concern," Amaro said of Moyer's age. "For us to go two years guaranteed, I think shows our committment to him, but he's probably one of our best conditioned athletes that we have. His dedication to his craft is as high as anybody's on our club. Jamie is going to do what he can to play out this contract and be an effective pitcher for us. We have every reason to believe with the way he works and the way he pitches that he can do just that, play out his contract."
The Phillies see four-fifths of their rotation complete with Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton and Moyer. The fifth spot? I think you'll see quite a battle in spring training. I think you're looking at Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ, Carlos Carrasco, Chan Ho Park and Drew Carpenter competing for that job. Adam Eaton stands almost no chance. The Phillies have been trying to give him away lately, but have found no takers. As far as Park goes, I tend to think Park is entering spring training in a similar position as Chad Durbin last year. I'm sure he's been told he will have a chance to start, but I think you will see him in the bullpen when the season starts.
Here's how I see the pitching staff shaping up entering Opening Day 2009:
Starters: Hamels, Myers, Blanton, Moyer and Kendrick/Happ/Carrasco
Bullpen: Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey and Park.
*
Chase Utley spoke to reporters today and said he expects to be ready to play come Opening Day 2009.
“Rehab is going well,” Utley said. “Things are progressing very well. I don’t expect any setbacks. I feel like I’ll be ready to go, but it’s something I have to be careful of. I want to make sure that we rehab this right. I don’t want to have this problem again. But as of now it’s looking good.”
I didn't want Pat back. We needed consistency behind Howard even if the lineup is shaken up. I hear that Park expects to start. How does that mix it up?— KINGOFZED
Pitching Pitching Pitching...Any opinions on why the Phitins won the world series? Pitching perhaps? Up until today I have been disappointed with what the phils were getting done in the off season. They should have set up a competition for left field like they apparently have for the 5th starting pitcher. The Ibanez deal didn't make alot of sense.— dlauver1
Im with martin710. This could be a premiere franchise of the ilk of Yankees and Boston. Just won a world series , the pieces are in place to win 2 or 3 more if you added a stud pitcher to compliment Hamels. Myers is probably gone after this year which would have opened up the possibility of a 4 year deal for Lowe. I just dont get it with the small minded actions of these owners. Why not sign Lowe and expect to win a world series instead of signing Chan Ho and a fading Jamie Moyer? You just spent $7.5 M on Moyer, $2.5 M-$5 M on Park. Like everyone else I love Moyer but like Pat the Bat it was the perfect ending for all involved.— argonne- Sign a 46 yr old pitcher? They all break down eventually. I got two words to remember....Tom Glavine. Camels, Blanton, Myers, Moyer and whoever...OUCH. Better have a STRONG bullpen!— The Wizard
- Hey Zolecki, what happened to Gordon? Isn't he slated to come back from injury soon?— tokar
- I believe the Phils will bring Gordon to spring training for a look see. Frankly however he's probably done.— James TL
