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 …
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 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.
Via Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal:
PHILADELPHIA — Jimmy Rollins is defined by a radiant smile, oozing confidence and a self-assured swagger. Now, he has a new nickname, too.
MVP.
Rollins, the Phillies’ shortstop, was named National League Most Valuable Player today in a close vote by the Baseball Writers Association of America. He received 16 first-place votes and 353 overall points, while Colorado Rockies slugging left fielder Matt Holliday got 11 first-place votes and 336 points.
Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder finished third with five first-place votes and 284 points. Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley finished fifth and eighth, respectively, in balloting that ended on the final day of the regular season.
Rollins is the fifth Phillies player to win the NL MVP, following Chuck Klein (1932), Jim Konstanty (1950), Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986) and Howard (2006). It marks the first time teammates have won back-to-back MVP awards since San Francisco’s Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds in 2000 and 2001.
He’s also the first NL shortstop to be named MVP since Barry Larkin …
The BUZZ in Philly
Charlie Manuel, the often made-fun-of and questioned manager of the National League East Champion Phillies, finished in 2nd place in the Manager of the Year voting, announced today by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Arizona’s Bob Melvin won the award with 19 first-place votes (119 total), while Manuel received seven (76 total).
Manuel led the injury-riddled Phillies to 89 wins and a playoff appearance for the first time since 1993. He signed a two-year contract extension last month.
Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who also writes The BUZZ in New York at www.hotstovenewyork.com. He can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.
The BUZZ in Philly
Phillies’ shortstop Jimmy Rollins and center fielder Aaron Rowand were named winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Both won the award for the first time after years of being considered among the best at their respective positions.
Rollins finished third among National League shortstops with a .985 fielding percentage. He committed only 11 errors in 717 chances and ranked second in assists (479) and third in putouts (227) and double plays (110).
Rowand led NL center fielders with 11 assists and only committed two errors in 405 chances.
Rollins is the fourth Phillies shortstop to win a Gold Glove Award, joining Bobby Wine, Ruben Amaro Sr. and Larry Bowa (2). Rowand is the third Phillies outfielder to win a Gold Glove, joining eight-time winner Garry Maddox and Bobby Abreu.
The gold glove will certainly help Rowand during his free-agent negotiations.
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.
The BUZZ in Philly
It was no surprise that Aaron Rowand filed for free agency this week. Nor was it a surprise that, despite the Phillies having exclusive negotiating rights with him until November 12, that he plans to test the open market.
Rowand made $4.35 million in 2007 and is reportedly seeking a 4-year deal that could be worth $10 million per season. He is coming off career-highs in just about every offensive category. His biggest impact, however, might be his presence in the clubhouse, where he was one of the most respected leaders on a Phillies team that made the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Rowand is also a fan-favorite of this blue-collar town, stemming back to when he smashed into the center-field wall chasing a fly ball. At that time, it was a welcome change to an outfield littered with players not willing to make such a sacrifice (that means you, Bobby Abreu). In Pat Burrells defense, he would never get to any fly ball near the wall fast …
The BUZZ in Philly
There are two very simple reasons why the Phillies should not pursue free-agent Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling.
Despite having just won his 2nd World Series ring with Boston and 3rd overall, Schilling, who will be 41 when spring training opens, is well past his prime. His fastball no longer reaches 40 mph and his stats during the regular season were less than impressive. Schilling went 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA. There are plenty of other right-handed pitchers who can match those stats.
Yes, his post-season record is very impressive. In fact, at 10-2, it is one of the best all-time. This year alone he was 3-0. But the Phillies shouldn’t be shopping for a post-season pitcher, especially one that will command $13 million a year, which is over half of the allotted amount the Phillies are willing to spend on free agents this off-season ($25 million).
I just sense this could be a classic case of dolling out a lot of money for one of the good-ole-boys who will ride …
The BUZZ in Philly
The Philadelphia Phillies will begin defense of their National League East crown at home against the Washington Nationals on Monday, March 31st.
They then head on the road to Cincinnati and New York before returning to host the National League Central Champion Chicago Cubs.
Let’s just hope they get off to a better start during their initial 15 games than 2007′s 4-11 debacle.
Other schedule highlights include hosting the American League Champion Boston Red Sox on June 16-18, as part of Interleague Play. Other American League opponents include the Blue Jays (May 16-18) and Angels (June 20-22).
If you’re thinking about a trip to Shea Stadium during its final season, September 5-7 is when the Mets host the Phillies in what will most-likely be a critical series for both teams.
The Phillies’ final week of the season ends at home against the Braves and Nationals.
The countdown to spring training begins!
Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who also writes The Buzz in New York for hotstovenewyork.com. He can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.
