Phillies Hold Onto Ace
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Jamie Moyer understands the importance of timing.
The veteran left-hander’s return to his native Philadelphia resulted in his first World Series title. And, last season’s success led to Monday’s agreement on a $13 million, two-year contract that keeps the durable 46-year-old with the champion Phillies.
“I feel based off of last season, the security of a two-year contract pushes and drives me,” Moyer said. “In my estimation, I don’t think the negotiations dragged on. Both sides had a stance which they believed to be right. Things moved along smoothly and it’s all about timing.
“I’m happy to be with the Phillies and look forward to defending the World Series championship.”
Philadelphia also confirmed it has a preliminary agreement with Chan Ho Park, a one-year contract worth $2.5 million.
And on a busy day of Phillies’ news, All-Star second baseman Chase Utley said he is recovering well from hip surgery and hopes to be ready for opening day.
Moyer went 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA in 33 starts last season and pitched six strong innings as the Phillies won Game 3 of the World Series.
He is 35-21 with a 4.33 ERA in 74 starts since the Phillies acquired him from Seattle in August 2006, and the Souderton, Pa., native has 246 career wins.
“I’m sure if you ask Jamie, he’ll say that he will play out a few more contracts,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Monday. “I know on paper it probably says this is his last contract, but it will be fun to see how it plays out.”
Amaro is confident Moyer will find a way to win at an age when some players are in their second decade of retirement. Moyer depends on pinpoint control and offspeed pitches.
“If his stuff does go backward, he’ll try to figure it out and how to pitch through it,” Amaro said. “That’s the beauty of Jamie Moyer.”
Possibly the oldest player to receive a guaranteed multiyear contract, Moyer would earn $20 million over the two years if he pitches 190 innings and makes 31 starts each season.
He will receive base salaries of $6.5 million in each of the next two seasons, and he can make an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses each year: $250,000 each for 150, 160, 170, 180 and 190 innings pitched.
In addition, his 2010 base can escalate by up to $4.5 million: $250,000 each for 150 innings and 23 starts, and $500,000 each for 160, 170, 180 and 190 innings, and 25, 27, 29 and 31 starts.
Moyer has a limited no-trade provision that allows him to block trades to six teams, no more than four in a league.
Park was quoted by the Korea Times as saying the Phillies considered him a starter, but Amaro declined to say whether Park will compete for a starting spot or pitch in relief. The 35-year-old went 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 54 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, going 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in five starts. He could compete with Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ and prospect Carlos Carrasco for the fifth spot in the rotation.
Park can earn an additional $2.5 million in performance bonuses.
Utley walked into his news conference with an exaggerated limp, but said he hoped to be ready for the start of the season April 5.
“I’m feeling good,” said Utley, whose right hip was operated on Nov. 24. “I don’t see any reason why I won’t be ready for the start of the season barring any setbacks.”
Utley acknowledged that he played through much of the 2008 season with a bad right hip. He hit .292 with 33 homers and 104 RBIs, but appeared to wear down as the season progressed.
His next evaluation is scheduled to take place in about a month.
“I’m young and I think it was the best course of action,” he said. “It’s a problem that I’ve probably had for a long time. I don’t play soft and I think it worked out pretty well.”
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Baseball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe
Posted: 12/16/08 10:45 AM ET
