Yep, the news just keeps coming for the Phillies, who made two moves today to help ensure that the bullpen for next year is in decent shape, and to possibly find their successor to Charlie Manuel.
After a solid season last year, many people were hopeful that Jose Contreras would be brought back for at least next season. Even at age 39 (or so), Contreras was one of the best relief pitchers for the Phillies last season, going 6-4 with a 3.34 ERA. Well, today, the Phillies rewarded Contreras with a two year, $5.5 million contract, giving him two more years in the red and white pinstripes.
This is a good move for the Phillies, who are going to need to keep some of their better bullpen options for next year. Contreras was pretty much the most consistent relief pitcher that the Phillies had last season, and it's worth the money to bring him back. While deals for a hard throwing pitcher can come back to bite you, Contreras showed his worth with the Rockies back in 2009, and really earned his stripes with the Phils last year. He's worth the money, especially with the way he pitched last season. I was hopeful that the Phillies would bring him back, and they did. It may have been for a bit more money than people may have expected, but to get Contreras back for under $3 million per season? I'll take it.
With the other move today, the Phillies finally resolved 29 years of frustration. It took almost three decades, but Ryne Sandberg is back in the fold for the Phils. It's not as a player, of course but as the manager of the Triple A Leihigh Valley Iron Pigs. Sandberg left the Chicago Cubs when he wasn't chosen as the manager after Lou Piniella retired, but it's for the best that he's with the Phillies now. Sandberg has been very, very good as a minor league manager, and he was expected to take over in Chicago, but the Cubs decided to go in another direction. Now, the Phillies have him once again, and they might just have their successor to Charlie Manuel.
I'm not hoping that Charlie Manuel is going to leave any time soon, but now the Phillies have one of the best options in baseball sitting there, waiting for them to call him up. Sandberg should have been named manager of the Cubs this offseason, but he wasn't, and now the Phillies get to reap the benefits. Considering how well Chicago made out with Sandberg during his playing days, I'm ok with this. I mean, the Cubs got Larry Bowa and Sandberg for Ivan DeJesus, which was one of the worst trades in Phillies history. Now, the Phillies finally get Sandberg back, and it's about time. I don't expect Sandberg to manage the Phillies in the next few years, but he should be tabbed for the next manager job in Philadelphia. Nothing is set in stone yet, but things are in motion right now.
Honestly, Ryne Sandberg should be a manager in the major leagues right now, but the Chicago Cubs loss is the gain for the Phillies. He's going to be great managing down in Triple A, and when Manuel steps away, he'll be there waiting for his chance. This could be going any better for the Phils right now. It's been such a long time, but the Phillies may finally have Ryne Sandberg back. It's about time.
CSNPhilly.com: Phillies resign Contreras
CSNPhilly.com: Phillies tab Ryne Sandberg to coach AAA
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