Ty Wigginton to Philadelphia Phillies – MLB Update
After crashing out of the playoffs this past season, the Philadelphia Phillies are not going overboard in the offseason. Every step that they take is planned and aims at minimising risk with no compromise on reward. Favourites to win the World Series at
one stage, the Phillies are still scratching their heads as to what went wrong.
With the best pitching staff onboard and one of the most reputable line-up in the National League, it was luck which disallowed Phillies a win against Wild Card entrants St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Division Series. Cardinals’ ace Chris Carpenter was central
to the historic win, shutting down Cy Young Award runner-up Roy Halladay in the elimination game.
Nevertheless, the Phillies have a task at hand in the offseason and they are showing glimpses of it as well. Although the pitching’ staff strengthened when general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. signed Jonathan Papelbon from the Boston Red Sox, no significant signing
has been made in the offence as yet.
One move, however, which has caught the attention of many, is Ty Wigginton’s addition to the roster. Although the terms for this transaction are yet to be decided, the Colorado Rockies were quick to make a decision for their utility player to Philadelphia
with an aim for some salary relief and some cash or a player, depending on the mutual understanding of both parties.
The Rockies and Phillies will equally share the 4-million-dollar price tag of Wigginton for the next season and if the Phillies take the player option for 2013, the Rockies will receive 100-thousand-dollars in cash, or a player who is yet to be named. However,
if the Phillies do not pick up on the option, the Rockies will be forced to share the 500-thousand-dollars buyout clause.
Wigginton is a utility player and has the ability to play in as well as in-field. The Phillies needed someone like Wigginton to ensure stability in the line-up and rest assured, the team is now expected to become a more consistent lot. However, injuries
have had the better of Wigginton over the past few years and only time will tell his usefulness to the team.
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