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 ballpark.”

Durbin, 30, has a 25-37 career record in parts of eight seasons with Kansas City, Cleveland, Arizona and Detroit. He went 8-7 with a 4.72 ERA for the Tigers last season.

Jenkins, 33, is a .277 career hitter with 212 home runs in 10 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He became a free agent when the Brewers declined his 2008 option of $9 million after the season.

The Phillies, who lost Aaron Rowand to San Francisco through free agency and sent Michael Bourn to Houston in a trade for closer Brad Lidge in November, have been looking for a left-handed bat to share time with Jayson Werth in right field. Jenkins, a .288 career hitter against right-handed pitchers, could also step in for left fielder Pat Burrell against select righties. Philadelphia had also talked with the representative for free agent center fielder Mike Cameron. By signing Jenkins, the Phillies are now committing to Shane Victorino as their regular center fielder. The San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers had also expressed interest in Jenkins.

Via Sportsnetwork.com:

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) – The San Diego Padres have reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with free agent second baseman Tadahito Iguchi.

Iguchi’s agent Rocky Hall informed MLB.com of the agreement. The second baseman batted .267 with nine home runs and 43 runs batted in over 135 games for the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies last season.

In his brief three-year career, Iguchi has batted .276 as the starting second baseman in the Windy City before filling in for injured Chase Utley after a trade with the Phillies in the middle of last season.

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 onto Cain and Lincecum, but being a last-place team it was his responsibility to be open-minded and listen.

“With this move, we will no longer listen to any offers for Cain and Lincecum,” Sabean said. “We know the value of both individuals believe me, maybe more so now that we’ve gone through this exercise. They might be the hottest two names in baseball.”

While manager Bruce Bochy had said Rajai Davis would get a chance to earn the job come spring training, Rowand was brought in to provide a consistent, hard-nosed presence in that position. That means Dave Roberts likely will shift from center to left field to replace departed home run king Barry Bonds, Randy Winn will stay put in right while Davis and some of the other young outfielders share time in a reserve role. That is, if the Giants don’t try to deal them — something Sabean said is a possibility.

Bochy recently met with Rowand during a trip to Las Vegas, where the outfielder lives during the offseason.

“I said I wanted to change the culture of the clubhouse and get back to the warrior mentality and play the game hard for nine innings,” Bochy said. “Aaron’s the type of player who can do that. He’s the type of player who can hold everyone accountable.”

The Giants haven’t reached the playoffs since 2003. They re-signed 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel last month, but still have a hole to fill at third and possibly first. If the Giants don’t bring back Pedro Feliz at third, Kevin Frandsen or Rich Aurilia might wind up playing that spot.

Sabean said San Francisco will speak to Feliz soon, but the team doesn’t plan to give him a three-year deal.

“We still have to address what have to do at third base,” Sabean said. “We’ll wade through what the possibilities are. We’re not shutting it off.”

The Dodgers (82-80) and Giants (71-91) brought up the rear in the NL West for just the second time since division play began in 1969.

When evaluating Rowand over the other available center fielders, Sabean said he met with his staff and checked off the many boxes where Rowand could help the club.

“Then it was just a matter of striking a chord with a contract,” Sabean said. “He’s a winning player. It’s a pleasure he’s coming to our organization. The timing is great. It will allow us to do other business without busting up our pitching.”

Rowand said he believes the Giants will contend in the much-improved division. One thing is certain, many of his new fans will remember Rowand for his hard collision with the wall during May 2006 — a game in Philadelphia against the New York Mets — that left him with a broken nose and broken bones around his left eye.

Rowand said being known as a gritty player is the utmost of compliments.

“Hopefully when I’m done playing this game, that’s what I’ll be remembered for,” Rowand said.

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 him to pitch in the middle [relief].”

With the 18th pick, the Phils took right-handed reliever Lincoln Holdzkom from the Boston Red Sox. Holdzkom, 25, went 5-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 42 games last season between Class AA Portland and Class AAA Pawtucket but exhibited control problems (44 walks in 632¼3 innings).

The Phillies paid $50,000 per player to pick Blackley and Holdzkom. They must stay on the active major league roster for the entire season or be offered back to their original teams for $25,000 apiece.

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 ESPN.com

Billy King’s reign in Philadelphia appears to be over.

The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that the Sixers plan to fire their general manager and replace him with New Jersey Nets general manager Ed Stefanski.

Stefanski is expected to sign a multiyear contract, and his introduction will come at a Tuesday news conference, according to the newspaper.

Stefanski will replace King, who has been with the franchise since 1997 and has been serving in the dual roles of president and general manager since May 2003.

The Sixers fell to 5-12 after Monday night’s 88-79 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks, leaving them with their 10th loss in 13 games and a 3-6 record at home.

A source told the newspaper that the Sixers contacted the Nets about a week ago, securing permission to speak with Stefanski, who has roots in Philadelphia.

Stefanski played for the University of Pennsylvania and was head coach at his alma mater, Monsignor Bonner High.

Stefanski is in his ninth season with New Jersey. He was promoted to GM in the summer of 2004.

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 in 1995 and only the second since Maury Wills in 1962.

But voters leaned toward Rollins, who had a historic season by becoming the first player with at least 200 hits, 20 doubles, 15 triples, 25 homers and 25 stolen bases. He started every game for the Phillies and played all but 17 innings at shortstop, winning both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

And, of course, there was his famous prediction.

In January, Rollins said the Phillies would be the “team to beat” in the NL East, even though they hadn’t won the division or made the playoffs since 1993. He backed up his words, batting .346 (28-for-81) with six homers, 15 RBIs and 15 runs in 18 games against the defending champion New York Mets and helping the Phillies overcome a 7.5-game deficit in the final 17 games.

“Jimmy Rollins labeled the Phillies the ‘team to beat’ in the NL East, then backed it up,” said Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, who had an MVP vote. “He particularly rose to the occasion in head-to-head matchups with the Mets. That’s what an MVP does.”

Holliday made a compelling case, too. He won the batting crown with a .340 average and led the league in RBIs (137), hits (216), doubles (50), total bases (386) and extra-base hits (92), ranked second in slugging percentage (.607), third in runs (120) and fourth in homers (36).

And when the Rockies needed to win nearly every game to make the playoffs, he batted .442 (23-for-52) with five homers and 17 RBIs in the final 13 games and scraped his chin on the dirt to score the winning run in the 13th inning of the wild-card tie-breaker game Oct. 1.

Ultimately, though, the vote went to Rollins, who turned out to be the “player to beat” in the MVP race.

“My objective was to try and get this team to believe we were good enough,” Rollins said of his January prediction. “We had the talent. We had the chemistry. We liked each other. When you have that chemistry and the will and desire to win, good things can happen. We just needed that swagger to go out there and believe.”

Rollins brought the swagger.

And, for that, he’s the MVP.

Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who also writes the Buzz in New York for www.hotstovenewyork.com.

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 enough to need to make a crashing catch.

The one thing in the Phillies favor during negotiations is that there is a plethora of free-agent center-fielders. However, this could also drive the price up once one is signed.

The only current options in center for the Phillies should they not sign Rowand are Shane Victorino or Michael Bourne. Either one will be a step-down in talent and leadership.

The Phillies brass seems committed to making sure this team continues to move in the right direction. While pitching is certainly a priority, and should be, the Phils’ first step in the right direction for next season would be to make sure Rowand is still crashing into the fence at the Bank, and not as a visiting player.

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.