Via Jerry Crasnck of ESPN.com:
The Philadelphia Phillies and free agent outfielder Geoff Jenkins agreed on a two-year deal believed to be worth about $13 million.
“He can play right or left field and will give Charlie lineup options on an everyday basis,” general manager Pat Gillick said, referring to manager Charlie Manuel.
The Phillies also agreed to a one-year deal with pitcher Chad Durbin.
If Jenkins makes a total of 925 plate appearances in the 2008-2009 seasons or 525 plate appearances in 2009, it would trigger a $7.5 million vesting option for 2010. If the agreement fails to vest, he and the Phillies have a mutual option for the third year.
The contract also includes a six-team limited no trade provision.
“Geoff had multiple suitors in this process,” said agent Damon Lapa. “It was a difficult choice, but this is a great opportunity for him. Philadelphia is a fantastic baseball city, that lineup is a murderer’s row, and he’s looking forward to hitting in that …
Signing Mike Richards to an extension was a priority for GM Paul Holmgren this season, and he finally got it done. The Flyers have announced they’ve signed Richards to a twelve-year extension, worth $69 million.
I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t twelve years a long time to sign a player, especially in such a physical game like hockey? Well it is, Richards will be 35 when the deal expires in the 2019-2020 season, but there is reasoning behind it. In order for Richards to sign long term and stay under the salary cap, the length had to be added. How the NHL salary cap works is it takes the average of the entire contract, so Richards contract will count for 5.75 million against the Flyers salary cap for the next twelve seasons. Even though he will only be making $4 million next season, the higher amount of $5.75 million will count, but toward the end of his contract when he’s making $9 million, again, only the $5.75 million will count.
Regardless …
Via the Associated Press:
SAN FRANCISCO — Aaron Rowand wanted some longterm stability, and so did the San Francisco Giants.
Rowand agreed to a $60 million, five-year contract with the Giants on Wednesday, giving the club a center fielder without having to trade pitchers Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum.
The 30-year-old Rowand is expected to bat fifth for San Francisco after spending the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Bottom line, I wanted to get in a spot where I would be longterm,” said Rowand, who noted he weighed four or five similar multiyear offers. “In this day of free agency, that’s not commonplace. That’s really the thing I was looking forward to most.”
He is coming off his best season yet, earning his first Gold Glove award and All-Star selection while helping the Phillies to the NL East title. Rowand batted .309 with 27 home runs and career bests of 89 RBIs, 105 runs, 189 hits, 45 doubles in 161 games.
General manager Brian Sabean repeatedly said he hoped to hold …
Via Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal:
At last, in the winter meetings’ final hours, the Phillies found pitching help. Maybe.
After three days of balking at the prohibitive cost for pitching, the Phillies picked two pitchers in the Rule 5 draft, baseball’s annual scavenger hunt for hidden talent. And they believe their first pick, left-hander Travis Blackley from the San Francisco Giants, can aid their rotation in 2008.
Blackley, a 25-year-old Australian, once was a touted Seattle Mariners prospect, but shoulder surgery caused him to miss the 2005 season and slowed his progress. He went 10-8 with a 4.66 ERA last season for Class AAA Fresno and is 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA in eight career games with Seattle and San Francisco.
“We think he’s still on the upswing,” assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said after the Phillies plucked Blackley with the 15th pick. “He’s definitely a guy that has a chance to compete for a job on the club. If he doesn’t end up as the fifth starter, his stuff would allow …
The Rule 5 Draft is always an interesting Phase of the Winter Meetings. If you have room on the 40-man roster, you can draft unprotected players (not on the 40-man), for a $50,000 fee. You must keep them on your 25-man roster for the entire season, or you must offer them back to the club the player was drafted to for $25,000.
Well the draft is complete, and the Phillies drafted two players, pitchers Travis Blackley and Lincolin Holdzkom in the Major League Phase.
Blackley was originally signed by the Seattle Mariners in 2000, by then GM Pat Gillick. In 2003 he was the Mariners minor league pitcher of the year where we 17-3 at Double San Antonio. He didn’t respond well to AAA, where he went 8-6 before he was recalled to Seattle. He struggled with the Mariners going 1-3 with an ERA over 10. After another before being dealt to San Francisco. He made two starts for the Giants last year, where he didn’t get a decision, but allowed seven earned runs in eight-plus innings.
Blackley …
The BUZZ in Philly
Billy King was officially fired as general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers this morning following five tumultuous years in that post.
He will be replaced by NJ Nets’ GM Ed Stefanski, who comes to the Sixers with high praise from Nets’ President Rod Thorn. Via Martin Frank of the Wilmington News Journal, Thorn had this to say about Stefanski:
“He’s been a big part of our success here the last seven years,” Thorn said. “He’s a wonderful guy. Very competent. I’m sure he’ll do a great job there.”
King was in the final year of his contract. The Sixers are off to another poor start (5 – 12) and have the second worst attendance in the NBA, averaging less than 12,000 fans.
The fate of Head Coach Maurice Cheeks, also in the final year of his contract, is yet to be determined.
Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who also writes The BUZZ in New York for www.hotstovenewyork.com. He can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.
