Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 11:26 AM | 22 comments |
 

Phillies sign reliever Qualls for $1.15 million
options
 
Chad Qualls pitched for the San Diego Padres last season. (Genevieve Ross/AP)

The Phillies took a pass on re-signing Brad Lidge, but jumped at the opportunity Tuesday to add another veteran arm to their bullpen by signing righthander Chad Qualls to a one-year deal worth $1.15 million.

The team announced the deal this morning and said it also includes performance and award bonuses.

Qualls, 33, went 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA in 77 games with the San Diego Padres last season and has a career record of 38-34 with 51 saves and a 3.78 ERA.

He has pitched at least 70 innings in five of his eight big-league seasons and has made more relief appearances (512) over the last seven seasons than any pitcher in baseball. He had two of his best seasons with Arizona in 2008 and 2009 before struggling in 2010. In his final 19 appearances with the Padres last season, he posted a 1.96 ERA and opposing hitters batted .219 against him.

The addition of Qualls puts the Phillies' 40-man roster at 39 and probably leaves only one relief spot open for competition in spring training.

You can read more about Qualls in Wednesday's Inquirer.

 
Posted by Bob Brookover @ 11:26 AM  Permalink | 22 comments
22
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:40 AM, 01/31/2012
    Real solid signing. This is the kind of move that usually goes unnoticed until you really need him in a key spot. I like the moves RAJ is making. Bring on Spring Training!!
    — athousandgods
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:42 AM, 01/31/2012
    good pickup -- see that Mrs. Amaro (i.e. "dogbiscuit") has been relaying my constructive criticisms to her son... would help if they could get a lefty too
    — warbiscuit
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:54 PM, 01/31/2012
    Hey moron lefties hit 127 off of Willis last year. To call you an idiot would be an insult to stupid people
    — DogBiscuitthedope
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:45 AM, 01/31/2012
    More pitching???? RAJ – it’s the offense that has failed you in the playoffs for two years in a row! Now the core players are older, slower, and more injury prone.
    — Bobphxville
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:53 AM, 01/31/2012
    Bobphxville knows nothing about baseball. Stick to dog fighting, dude!
    — robynk
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:55 AM, 01/31/2012
    Fail to make the playoffs.
    — Clarkeisgod
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:03 PM, 01/31/2012
    Bobphxville I get how you want more bats, just like I do, but who was out there besides Pujols and Fielder? Bad year to land a LF or a 3B free agent. The team just needs to be hot and hitting at the end of the season. After the all star break they had the most runs scored in the NL. They just need to be consistent.
    — Joe WS
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:24 PM, 01/31/2012
    What is the date that pitchers and catchers report? I am ready.
    — Clt Philly Fan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:25 PM, 01/31/2012
    Completely agree with Bobphxville. While certainly solid, low-risk moves, the pitching additions completely ignore what has failed this team in each of the last three seasons. The GM is paid to be creative and address these needs, and if he's not gonna do it in the offseason fine, but at some point this year Rube will need to add a bat. The last three postseasons the Phils have hit .226, .215 and .247. That aint gettin it done, the book is out on how to approach these guys in crunch time. I'm sorry but adding veteran relievers and bench options does absolutely nothing to address the core issues facing this team
    — stikolaboloni
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:41 PM, 01/31/2012
    This and the Willis experiment are big votes of no confidence for a bunch of young and seemingly ready guys we have in AAA and AA. If Herndon makes the 25-man roster again, I'll really be flummoxed.
    — eman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:08 PM, 01/31/2012
    I think we're trying to " hold " the other team to one run or less , that way even with no offense , we win ' most ' games ... Most
    — ingy9
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:36 PM, 01/31/2012
    I'd like a Zimmerman or Wright for 3B, too. But I like this deal and to me it says they aren't real sure about Contreras right now. This Chad should be like the other Chad, Durbin, for this team.
    — PhillySubsMac
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:38 PM, 01/31/2012
    robynk--What have you been watching??? The Phils have not hit in Sept & Oct since 08.
    — luv2hit
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:49 PM, 01/31/2012
    not a fan of qualls... first move Im kinda bummed about...my guess is they think Contreras is toast and they need a veteran arm...
    — TheLon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:24 PM, 01/31/2012
    instead of Papelbon, Qualls, and Willis, could have signed Madson and lefty like Mike Gonzalez (still available)
    — warbiscuit


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About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
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