06/07 Phillies Offseason Thread

[PhillyPhreak54]

Phils bring in Eaton to complete rotation
With Randy Wolf out of the picture, the team made a deal with a righthanded starter who was their first-round draft pick in 1996.
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer

The Phillies have found a familiar face to complete their 2007 rotation.

They have an agreement with righthander Adam Eaton, their first-round pick in 1996 whom they traded with two other pitchers to the San Diego Padres in 1999 for Andy Ashby. Phillies general manager Pat Gillick would not comment yesterday on Eaton, but sources said Eaton has agreed to a three-year contract worth $24 million. The contract also includes an option for 2010.

The Phillies hope the 29-year-old Eaton passes his physical, which is scheduled for today, to give them some good news.

They lost in the Alfonso Soriano sweepstakes, and had said they wanted lefthander Randy Wolf back. Wolf is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Phillies continue to look for that big bat to hit behind Ryan Howard. Besides Soriano, the Phillies had interest in Gary Sheffield. But he went to Detroit. And contrary to reports elsewhere, the Phillies were not interested in outfielder Carlos Lee, who signed with Houston.

They inquired, but that's about it. "We weren't in on him," Gillick said.

The market seems to be moving fast, but other than the signing of third baseman Wes Helms, this month has been quiet for the Phillies.

"It's like musical chairs," Gillick said. "You don't want to be stuck without a chair... . I'm optimistic about the potential of some of the things we're talking about. I just think we've had some good dialogue back and forth, both in trades and in free agency. We've had some good talks."

Eaton will join Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jon Lieber and Jamie Moyer in the rotation.

The Phillies preferred Eaton over the other pitchers on the market - Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt expressed no interest in Philadelphia, so they were never options - for a few reasons. The most important: They simply think he has better stuff. But then there is the familiarity factor. They also consider him to be a better athlete who can field his position, and even hit a little.

Eaton has missed time in the previous two seasons with an injured tendon in the middle finger on his pitching hand. He had surgery in April, but returned in July and went 7-4 with a 5.12 ERA in 13 starts for the Texas Rangers.

He is 54-45 with a 4.40 ERA in 146 games with the San Diego Padres and the Rangers. Wolf went 69-60 with a 4.21 ERA in 194 games.

The Phillies will focus their efforts on the bullpen (they have expressed interest in David Weathers and Joe Borowski), a backup catcher, and, of course, finding that bat. Things could pick up beginning this weekend, with Friday being the deadline for teams to offer salary arbitration to their free agents.

"There wasn't a lot of depth in this market," Gillick said. "You had Soriano and Carlos Lee. You have Zito and Schmidt. After you get by that group, there's not a lot there."

The Phillies would need to make a trade at this point to find a bat. They have been interested in Vernon Wells and Rocco Baldelli in the past, but it doesn't sound as if Gillick has warmed at all to Manny Ramirez.

The off-season hasn't gone as planned for the Phillies, but Gillick said he is optimistic. The Phillies consider Eaton a step in the right direction.

"I think things are going to be all right," Gillick said. "I think we've got some things going that are going to make us better than we are."

Phillies hire third-base coach. The Phillies hope Steve Smith lasts a little longer than Art Howe.

The team announced yesterday that it has hired Smith as its third-base coach. He replaces Howe, who held the job for less than a month before he joined the Rangers as their bench coach. Smith, 54, who also will be the team's infield instructor, served as the Rangers' third-base coach for the last five seasons and also in Seattle from 1996 to '99.

[Philly_Crew]

Good move getting Eaton.  Now lets get some relievers.

[Wingspan]

Myers has finally matured and is ready to accept the role as an Ace

[Sgt PSN]

Myers has finally matured and is ready to accept the role as an Ace

I was being facetious

[PhillyPhreak54]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6214654

Just say no to Piazza.

[MDS]

Would be a 1 to 2 year deal, still can hit. DH in AL Parks, good PH, could start 2/5 pitchers, sometimes 1/5. Yea, sure.

[SD_Eagle5]

I wouldn't have a problem with getting Piazza but am more than happy with a Ruiz/Coste rotation. He's not worth $7 million.

[MDS]

For one year? Yea, it's worth it. As long as they spent the money on pitching they need to.

[SD_Eagle5]

$7 million for a backup catcher? No thanks, I'd rather spend the money on the BP or getting another bat.

[Eaglez]

Piazza had a better year than I thought last season. .283 22 and 68 isn't shabby.

But I don't think it's worth 7 million if it means foregoing on some bullpen help. If its not an either/or scenario, I'd pick him up for a year. What the hell, its not like he's asking for a long term deal. One and done.

[ice grillin you]

No thanks, I'd rather spend the money on the BP or getting another bat.

he would be another bat but yeah id much rather have bullpen help and/or a burrell replacement

[Rome]

Seven million dollars for Mr. Norristown?

Ha.


Pass.

[PhillyPhreak54]

The problem with Piazza is that he would have to play defense in order to get his bat into the lineup. He might be the worst catcher in the game. Uncle Charlie could steal a bag on him. And he cannot handle pitchers to save his life. Let him go to the AL. Oakland will sign him and mpmcgraw will worship Billy Beane.

[DH]

I heart Piazza.

[MDS]

His zesty defense his worth his bat once or twice every five starters. The Padres did just fine, or well mediocre enough, with him as their majority playing catcher. Piazza wouldnt be playing that much. He would probably be the exclusive catcher for a pitcher, perhaps Adam Eaton. He would be a good PH off the bench, a good DH in AL parks. Of course, by signing him, that would give Carlos Ruiz the catcher's job. And that scares me. Going with the plan platoon of Ruiz and Coste is a safer bet, you'd have to think that one of them would wind up being halfway decent.

Also, Cole Hamels called Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell the leaders of the team. I laughed.