Dobbs, Moyer removed from Phillies roster, become free agents

Greg Dobbs' tenure with the Phillies came to an unceremonious, although unsurprising, end yesterday when he elected to become a free agent after the team removed him from the 40-man roster.

The move hardly comes as a shock, even though the club had the option of retaining the veteran third baseman by offering him arbitration. Dobbs, 32, was twice designated for assignment during a 2010 season in which he hit just .196 with a .251 on-base percentage in 88 games (176 plate appearances). He returned to the Phillies in September and was on the active roster for their division series sweep of the Reds, but did not participate in the National League Championship Series.

Dobbs was a valuable contributor off the bench in 2007 and 2008, hitting .284 with a .331 on-base percentage, 19 home runs and 95 RBI in 598 plate appearances. He owns club single-season records for pinch-hits (22 in 2008) and pinch-hit RBI (18 in 2007). But his playing time decreased in 2009, as did his performance.

Dobbs started Game 2 of the 2008 World Series, going 1-for-3 as a designated hitter against the Rays.

The Phillies made two other moves yesterday, both of them procedural. They removed Paul Hoover from the 40-man roster, outrighting him to Triple A Lehigh Valley. He then elected to be a free agent. They also removed veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer, 47, who elected free agency. Moyer's contract expired at the end of the season, although he says he is intent on pitching again next season. He is free to sign with any team beginning 5 days after the World Series.

Moyer, who went 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA before suffering a season-ending elbow injury in late July, was a fixture in the rotation since the Phillies acquired him from the Mariners in August 2006. In 4-plus years with the Phillies, he is 56-40 with a 4.55 ERA.

Moyer reported yesterday to the Escogido Lions in the Dominican winter league and is planning to pitch a few games.

The Phillies now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.

Roy Halladay was named the National League Outstanding Pitcher in the Players Choice Awards.

Halladay led all big-league pitchers in wins (21), shutouts (4), complete games (9) and innings pitched (250 2/3). The seven-time All Star finished second in the NL with 219 strikeouts and third with a 2.44 ERA - the second lowest ERA in his 13-year career (2.41 in 2005).

Halladay previously was named the NL Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News in a vote of players, general managers and league executives.

Tampa Bay's David Price was named the Outstanding Pitcher in the American League.

Halladay will receive $20,000 to donate to a charity through the MLB Players Trust, a charitable foundation created and run by the players themselves. The Players Trust raises funds and attention for issues affecting the needy and promotes community involvement.

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz was among the three winners of the Pride of Philly awards from the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.

He joined the national championship Villanova football team and Boston College's Mark Herzlich, from Conestoga High.

Ruiz led the Phillies in hitting and played superbly behind the plate to help guide the pitching staff to a team ERA of 3.68.

Villanova went 14-1 in 2009 and beat Montana for the FCS championship. Herzlich overcame Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and returned to the team for his senior year at BC.

The three honorees will be represented at the Hall's Class VII Induction Ceremonies on Nov. 11 at the Sheraton Society Hill. *

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese. Follow him on Twitter at

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