Phils Ink Villarreal
Posted by Pat Gallen, Thu, February 04, 2010 02:36 PM | Comments: 22
Posts
In their never-ending quest for arms, the Phillies signed former Braves and Astros relief pitcher Oscar Villarreal to a one-year, minor league deal today.
Villarreal last pitched in the majors in 2008, sitting all of last season after Tommy John surgery. His last full year was with Houston, and it was relatively uninspiring. He posted a 5.03 ERA in 35 appearances in ’08 and has had an up-and-down major league career.
According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, Villarreal tossed a bullpen session in Arizona and threw about 89-90 mph and will be certainly be looked at as plug for the leaky pen.
Posts: 0 Johnny
Shoot, he’s probably better than Contreras.
Posted: 02:58 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Jeff of Nova
Low risk High reward possibility!!
Posted: 03:17 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
really how are you going to compare this guy to anyone until you see how he has recovered from his surgery, it is a minor league deal so if he stinks it up no harm no foul. He is like any other minor leaguer you do not know alot about.
How old is he?
On another note, anyone going out to Arizona and or San Fran in April for the Phillies games, I will be out there Saturday April 24th, and then San Fran Tuesday 27th. If anyone wants to go I will order more than just tickets for me and my wife let me know.
Posted: 03:48 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Havoc
I think Contreras will be fine in the bullpen actually. No problem with stocking some extra arms though and seeing what happens.
Posted: 03:48 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Griffin
I’m surprised he didn’t get a 3-year deal.
Posted: 03:53 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Griffin
Minor league deals=no risk, possible reward
Now about that Danyz Baez deal…..
Posted: 03:55 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 George
I’m still waiting for some just-in-case starters.
Posted: 04:08 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Bob in Bucks
You can’t have too many arms!
Posted: 04:10 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
He could be something like a Felipe Lopez…. hopefully!
Posted: 04:20 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
Pat, I think you said it best….a “plug”
That’s about it.
Posted: 04:43 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Don M
“Just Crushed” probably thinks that this is a terrible move, and that Amaro should be fired ASAP
Posted: 04:52 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
“Just Crushed” probably thinks that having Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins in the starting lineup is a terrible move as well.
Posted: 05:35 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 Jeff of Nova
Come on now “Just Crushed” just sucks!!
Posted: 06:52 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 WFC010
Just Crushed is a closet Yankees fan anyway, so eff that guy!
Anyway, I say we can never have too many extra arms for the bullpen. Now if we can just bring aboard a guy like Wang or Pedro as 5th starter, and we’ll be just about set.
Posted: 07:18 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
Kind of like this, you don’t need upside guys on minor league deals when you have 4/5ths of your rotation locked up and a stack of potential rotation fillers in the farm. More important to have a guy you can call up and take a shelling but chew up some innings while doing it, lets call it a ‘poor mans Jon Garland’ contingency move… (that phrase should be coined)
Posted: 09:15 PM on February 4, 2010
Posts: 0 George
A poor man’s Jon Garland? I don’t think so. Garland is a starter, Villareal a reliever. And the Phils’ “rotation fillers” are few and far between. Their minor leaguers, for the most part, aren’t yet MLB ready.
I look for the F.O. to pick up a cheap option for that fifth starter role. Wang would be fine if he wasn’t needed immediately, and Lowry would be fine if he’s healthy.
I’d like to see at least three pitchers vying for that number five spot. Right now, the Phils really only have Kendrick for April, with Moyer maybe an option in May.
Posted: 08:09 AM on February 5, 2010
Posts: 0 TBT
Speaking of fill-in starters . . .
any story on Rodrigo Lopez going to AZ? Any interest from him or the Phillies in returning? Or was either side completely soured on the other?
Posted: 09:26 AM on February 5, 2010
Posts: 0 j reed
So i guess this means Mathieson isn’t gonna be ready.
Posted: 11:27 AM on February 5, 2010
Posts: 97 Paul Boye
A move like this doesn’t block Mathieson; it’s a minor league deal.
If Mathieson’s ready (he is), he won’t be behind Villareal on the promotion depth chart.
Posted: 11:31 AM on February 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Don M
This is just another move to have lots of veteran arms… in case the regulars aren’t ready.. or someone suffers a setback in Spring Training.
I would rather be able to choose between Villareal, Contrearas, etc.. than Zagurski and Escalona
Phillies are in a nice position that players would rather take a minor league deal to have a chance to play here… than to take another deal with the Royals, Priates, etc.. And Ruben & Co. are taking advantage of that by signing as many arms as possible
Posted: 12:38 PM on February 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
Yeah, it wasn’t that long ago that NOBODY wanted to play here.
Posted: 01:20 PM on February 5, 2010
Posts: 0 joepa
I know this is off topic, but does anyone out there know when single-season tickets go on sale?
Posted: 01:35 PM on February 5, 2010