Source: Willis agrees to one-year deal
Dontrelle Willis once won Rookie of the Year and finished second in Cy Young voting. He's resurrected a career presumed done at age 26, and now he'll be asked to assume a role he's never filled before.
Source: Willis agrees to one-year deal
Matt Gelb
Dontrelle Willis once won Rookie of the Year and finished second in Cy Young voting. He's resurrected a career presumed done at age 26, and now he'll be asked to assume a role he's never filled before.
A major-league source confirmed the Phillies agreed to a one-year deal with Willis, pending a physical. His base salary, first reported by ESPN.com, will be less than $1 million. All of Willis' 13 appearances were starts in 2011 and 202 of his 205 career games are starts, but the source said he'll be reliever for the Phillies.
Willis posted a 5.00 ERA in 75 2/3 innings for Cincinnati in 2011, but the Phillies apparently saw enough to guarantee the lefthander a one-year contract for 2012.
The answer probably lies in his ability to retire lefthanders.
His career numbers against lefties are outstanding, holding them to a .200/.274/.288 slash line. In 2011, those numbers were even better, as lefties hit .127 with a .369 OPS against. He turns 30 in January.
Ruben Amaro Jr. said he wanted to add a lefthanded reliever at the winter meetings and Willis simply adds depth to a unit teeming with promise. The other advantage: Theoretically, if the Phillies needed a starter to slide into the rotation because of injury, Willis presents that backup plan.
The Phillies have now guaranteed contracts to three relievers -- Jonathan Papelbon, Jose Contreras and Willis. Contreras' health is still in question, but he is scheduled to begin throwing in January. Kyle Kendrick was offered arbitration. The remaining three spots in the bullpen will be filled by a handful of young arms. Figure Antonio Bastardo is a lock. That leaves Mike Stutes, Justin De Fratus, Phillippe Aumont, David Herndon, Michael Schwimer and Joe Savery to fight for two spots.
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warbiscuit needs to stop spewing the same stuff over and over...— Grazman- Dontrelle could be a 1b or corner outfielder. Guy can hit better than Rick Ankiel.— SilliBilli
- Still time to sign Prince Fielder and teach him to play short stop or third base.— orange rhino
- Willis is a high school friend of JRoll. Always wanted Philly to trade for this guy and hopefully he's got the stuff to be a dominate lefty reliever. Price is right so no problem there should Amaro need to do some other things. I like it!— walt1
- If this works out will it be better than the Flyers signing Jagr?— AEPi71
- If this works out will it be better than the Flyers signing Jagr?— AEPi71
- Nice low risk move -- if he can be a left handed version of the 2011 Kyle Kendrick, then it's be a great move. Plus he can hit.
Doesn't seem that long ago that the Marlins traded Willis and Cabrera to the Tigers.— paolibulldog - Phillies are reassembling the 2003 All Star team.— RockStar
- in theory, a great move. in reality, probably won't do any good. there is still a good, maybe very good, arm on this guy. it's his head that's a worry. were gene mauch alive and still managing us, and we had a pitching coach who really knew pitchers... need i go on? still, me, not a fan of the rube, i like it.— bubba church & granny hamner
- If Mauch was alive and still managing the Phils we would have zero WS appearances. You and Conlin have to come to the realization that Mauch was a sub 500 manager. And Uncle Hughie was a moron. — shadow22
- would you people give up on Cuddyer? not going to happen. im not in love with this move, but OK with it- and he can hit too.
by the way, can you tell me how dumping Jimmy and replacing him with Wilson Valdez or a light hitting minor league change the face of your lineup for the better? and everyone says its all about hitting in the playoffs, and Rollins led the team in hits in the Cards series...
i cant figure out what the people expect to happen in reality at this point..— jim715 - I believe the line of thinking is that if the Phillies passed up big money/long term to Rollins they would have the ability to go after Ramirez for thirdbase, or have the money if David Wright goes on the market midseason...Since that won't happen, bringing Jimmy back of course makes sense, but on the club's terms, unless they think Galvis is purely a utility type and has no ceiling to be a viable option down the line....Third base will be a priority next year now it seems, unless Polanco breaks down again, which is not out of the question. — bearsfriend
- Now sign Jroll & Encinal HS in Alameda, CA will reunite in Philly.
— jjthree - Actually, Willis getting LESS than what Francisco would have received (the report has Willis signing for < $1 million, while Francisco would have received at leasdt $2 million and change. Sometimes, a gamble pays off, sometimes it doesn't. IF (the largest two letter word in the English language) Dubee can get some consistancy out of Willis, he would be an upgrade on the left-handed side of the pen. Doesn't say much on the confidence the Brass has for Joe Savery (looks like he is destined for AAA again). I'm sure Dubee was consulted on this and some tape was reviewed. I still believe something is brewing in RAJ's back pocket. Rollins should be signed, but since he isn't, a trade may be immenant. Why all the negatives? Only issue I still have....RAJ stated he wanted to upgrade the offense...where is that coming from?— drhoffman
- The brass of a team with World Series aspirations shouldn't have enough confidence in any unproven player to simply hand him a job on the big league team. What this says to Joe Savery is you're going to have to compete for a spot on the roster. I'll bet Joe Savery didn't expect anything less. — phillyl0
