On Saturday the Phillies came to a 1 year agreement with veteran right hander Jose Contreras. Sources believe the deal is right around the $1 million range. After a brutal start to the season in the American League with the White Sox, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies and pitched extremely well. This has been a common trend for players coming from the AL to the NL, where they face much weaker competition. Overall he finished the season 6-13 with a 4.92 ERA and his overall flexibility is a great asset to any team. He can start or relieve and throws 6 pitches from 3 different arm slots, which makes him very deceptive when he drops down to a submarine style, three-quarters, or straight over the top. His splitter is also one of the best in the bigs.
This is the only move this entire off-season I have agreed with besides the Halladay deal, minus the Lee trade. At Charlie Manuel’s press conference on Wednesday he stated that Contreras would come out of the bullpen in all likelihood but in my opinion he would be of much greater value pitching every five days in the rotation. Right now if you leave Contreras in the pen, you are leaving the 5th rotation spot to a competition between Kyle Kendrick and a recovering Jamie Moyer. That is not exactly something I would be excited about, going into this season with expectations of another World Series run. Money will most likely play a factor, as Moyer is owed almost $7 million for this season. As I look at it, he’s going to get his money one way or the other, so why cost your team games being stubborn. He is 47 years old and was largely ineffective last season. He is coming off of three different major surgeries this off-season. Kyle Kendrick is essentially a one trick pony that the league has figured out to this point. In his rookie season he showed tremendous poise while getting by with just his sinker. The second time around the league that simply is not enough. Until he develops a legitimate second “out” pitch, he will struggle at this level. Jose Contreras was a great signing at a cheap price but now Amaro and Manuel have to use him in a way where he can be at his greatest value to the team, and that is in the rotation.
I love the Phillies website! I think that idiot Ruben Amaro hired a puppet to spin his terrible Lee trade. Just like the Eagles who hired that kiss ass Dave Spadaro. Check it out…they now have featured all three prospects selling us how great there are and full of promise! That’s BS I promised my X wife who I loved dearly I’d never drink again and hurt her, then promptly went out and drank a 12 pack of bud and a bottle of Jack! Takes a liar to know one and see through one! Ruben is a fraud, PLEASE bring back Pat Gillick that genius and let Ruben go be bat boy again like he did on the 1980 squad! Does Ruben really think we are fools……NEWS FLASH, Philly fans may be bullies, but we are pretty damn astute! Ruben DON’T insult us like that retard geek Joe Banner. I am white, fed up and angry…………
Loved getting Halladay,Contreres,and Polanco…
Hated losing Lee, Myers, Park, Drabek…
Sick and tired of throwing that slop of an excuse Moyer out there as a #5 starter. On MOST teams without an offense that explodes behind him specifically for some crazy reason, he could not win 5 games a year!
I got news for all us Phillies fans before we jump the gun, the Dodgers are NO JOKE! I am a Philadelphian who happens to live in Brentwood Village, West Los Angeles, down the street from OJ’s old place (EEEERIE). Anyway the local baseball writers here were in shock and relief, when bonehead Amaro sent Lee packing. They were saying with the 1 and 2 punch of Halladay and Lee it looked like a third straight year losing to the Phils. Now with their hungry young team, they have gained a sense of confidence it is their turn to battle the Yankees, due to our starting pitching is a question mark. Contreras should START and they would not even consider him in the pen if they were not idiots and let Park walk too!
I just don’t get the managements schizophrenic like off season moves…i step forward, one back. I still feel hollow from losing Lee. Think I need therapy. Maybe they will go after him afyer next season when he is a free agent and we realized we came up short by a tad again. I love the Phils, but just don’t see a title unless Cole has a breakout year.
I like Contreras too, and agree with you that I’d give him the fifth spot in the rotation, or at least let him compete for it. BUT, I also like the Polanco deal. Make that LOVE the Polanco signing.
By the way, did you take a look at Montana Magic (part 2 of 3) on youtube?
I dont have a problem with Polanco the player as much as I have a problem with the 3 year commitment to a 34 year old who has shown signs of aging already. Same issue I had with he Ibanez signing.
I didn’t watch it yet but i’ll get to it at some point
When you watch it notice where he puts the ball, and how soft the passes are almost every time. THAT’S why the west coast offense worked like it did for the Niners. And watch how quickly he makes his progression to his first, second and third receivers. And when he decides to run it’s quick, and decisive. Nobody open? Bing– I’ll take of for ten yards. That quick. Montana was the man.
Nice insight there Johnny G, I say the Phillies are making this a lot harder than it has to be.