Phillies welcome Ruiz back into the fold

RYAN HOWARD turned 34 this week, and Jimmy Rollins turns 35 next week. Chase Utley turns 35 next month, and Carlos Ruiz will be 35 before spring training. Marlon Byrd, the new bat added to the 2008 championship core, turns 37 in August.

Less than 5 minutes into last night's press conference to officially welcome Ruiz back in a Phillies uniform, by way of a 3-year, $26 million free-agent contract, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was asked about the uncertain path he was taking in expecting an aging group of players to be a winning team in 2014. The Phillies were not a winning team in 2013 and were a .500 team in 2012.

"I think we can win," Amaro said. "It's really a matter of getting the guys on the field. If they're on the field, they will produce. Unless something drastic happens over the next several months, I fully expect these guys to be on the field and performing.

"Yes, they're older, but they're also very good when they're playing. That's important. I think it was [Yankees general manager] Brian Cashman who said,'I don't care about the age, so long as they're good.' I believe in our players, even though the core group is getting older."

Amaro has to believe in his players because he's the one who has committed more than $200 million to them in the last 3 1/2 years.

But the contracts for Howard, Rollins, Utley and even Byrd are old news, and, according to Amaro, separate from the decision he had to make in the last 2 months regarding Ruiz. With no in-house candidate ready for major league catching duties and few intriguing options on the open market, Amaro was comfortable committing to Ruiz, even if it meant guaranteeing the aging backstop 3 years.

"Clearly, this is a commitment that will be scrutinized, but, when we start talking about this position and the dearth of quality in this position, I know that Chooch knows what it takes to be a championship-caliber player," Amaro said. "With the marketplace the way it was, and I think with the ability that he's going to bring to the table, he keeps himself in very good shape, he's dedicated to this sport, he's dedicated to this craft, and he's really developed into one of the leaders of our club. All of those factors are part of some of the decisions that we make.

"Is it a risk to put 3 years into a catcher at this stage of his career? It can be, yes. But I think every signing is a risk. We hope that he's productive throughout the 3 years and more."

Although he struggled for most of 2013, hitting .268 with a .688 OPS, Ruiz has produced offensively on the whole in the last four seasons, hitting .295 with a .374 OBP and .810 OPS. But Ruiz also has been less than durable in the last two seasons while battling injuries; he's been on the disabled list at least once in each of the last five seasons.

Amaro acknowledged the risk he was taking in Ruiz, no different from the risk with Howard, Utley and Rollins. He can only hope the man seated to his right yesterday - and the rest of his aging core - can fight Father Time and stay healthy, too, in 2014 and beyond.

"I feel great, I'm healthy, I feel strong," Ruiz said. "I know everyone was saying [stuff] about the third year, but for me, right now, I'm looking forward to 2014. Come back in good shape and we'll go from there."

In addition to finalizing Ruiz' contract, which includes a club option for a fourth year, the Phillies signed infielder Andres Blanco to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Blanco, 29, is a .255 hitter in six seasons with the Royals, Rangers and Cubs.