Dontrelle Willis: Career Comes to Halt, but It Does Leave Bigger Questions

Dontrelle Willis was once on top of the baseball world. The hard-tossing lefty took the baseball world by storm in 2005 when he won 22 games, threw five shutouts and came in second in the NL Cy Young race.

Fast forward seven years, and this once-promising career is all but finished. 

In his first five seasons (2003-07), Willis won a total of 68 games. Since then he has won a total of four games over four years. 

Chalk it up to ineffectiveness, wildness, Steve Blass disease or a string of injuries for his plummet from grace. Whatever the case may be, after 2006 when his walks increased by 20 percent, his ERA jumped from 3.87 to 5.17 and his SO/BB ratio radically decreased from 3.09 to 1.93, the signs were there that something was seriously wrong. 

Never pitching more than 75 innings in the last four years, Willis became a journeyman donning the uniform of the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds. Never once did it appear that Willis was past whatever was causing these problems, especially when his walks total nearly surpassed the number of innings he pitched. 

This past December, the perennial powerhouse Philadelphia Phillies took a chance by signing Willis to a one-year incentive-laden deal that could’ve reached $1 million. And within three months of the signing, Willis is again without a team. 

After allowing five earned runs and striking out four in less than three innings this spring, the Phillies announced that they had released Willis. Judging by the results that was a major factor in the decisions, but so was his velocity which ranged from 82-87 mph according to CBS Sports. 

What did catch my attention was what Willis said last month  in an interview with the Delaware County (Pa.) Daily Times:

Earlier this spring, I asked Willis about the nature of pitching on a non-guaranteed contract this spring. His response was surprising: he didn’t know it wasn’t guaranteed.
“You’d have to ask my agent that, I think it’s guaranteed,” a slightly puzzled Willis said last month. “I hope it is. Or else I’ve got to fire him, you know what I mean? I think it’s guaranteed.” 

“I never look at it. Who cares?” Willis said. “It’s not about the money for me. It’s not like I have one of thee big deals like the starters. That’s irrelevant. I just want to get people out. You know what I mean?” 

Willis’ contract was not guaranteed. Upon his release he was expected to receive $139,000 in termination pay (courtesy of USA Today).

If an athlete doesn’t know what his contract says, that is a major problem. There have been so many horror stories about athletes, despite all the millions, end up with nothing after retirement. Many have made bad investments, and lost everything in Ponzi schemes.

I, by no means, have any idea what his financial status is, whether Willis has invested the over $40 million in salary he has accumulated in his career, but to say something like “I hope it is” is probably not the best answer. 

It’s not enough today to just be a great athlete; you need to be a businessman. An athlete is a brand and with branding comes making educated decisions about your money and having sound financial advice to go with it.

You can play the part and look like the most successful athlete in the world, but if you don’t plan for your future and/or family, it’s all for nothing.

Devon is the Founder and Executive Director of The GM’s Perspective. He is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals and Gateway Grizzlies.

You can follow The GM’s Perspective on Twitter and Facebook. His full bio can be seen here.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Top 20 Phillies Catchers of All Time

I’m pretty certain this has been done before, but in doing the research, it was before the Carlos Ruiz era.  So, let’s see where Chooch ranks among the all-time greatest Phillies backstops heading into the 2012 season.  These rankings factor in:

Games Played, AB’s, Runs Scored, Home Runs, RBI, Average and Postseason Awards.

 

So here we go….

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why the Team Needs to Start Domonic Brown

Just last season, Domonic Brown was one of the top rated prospects in all of baseball.  An elite future seemed imminent, and the only question was when Brown would be given an opportunity to get it started.

Now, it seems like many fans and analysts would prefer to see the Brown era ended before it’s even begun.

The Brown critics have some legitimate points and concerns over the outfielder’s future.  They say he struggled in his short time in the Major League’s last season and, even more damningly, had a tough time in the minors after he was sent down.  

They say he looks lost in the field, that he’s a classic “toolsy” project player who just can’t seem to put it all together and that he’s made of glass and might not be able to stay on the field.

The Dom haters might be right, and they might be wrong.  He could be a bust that’ll never live up to his potential, and he could be the young explosive piece the Philadelphia Phillies offense needs.  

The thing is, we’ll never know (and, more importantly, neither will the Phillies) what exactly Brown is if we never see him play.

As I briefly got into in my comments on my article handicapping the Phils’ battle for the LF spot, I feel like it’s similar to the Philadelphia 76ers recently deciding to finally start Even Turner—another prospect facing a lot of expectations who many had started to write off as a bust.  At some point, you just have to let him loose and see what he has.  

There’s only so much you can tell about a player when he is playing in AAA.  If the goal is to eventually have Brown hit and field at the Major League level, then we should care about how he hits against Major League pitchers and fields balls hit by Major League batters.

Besides, Brown’s struggles during his return to the minor league’s last season need not be attributed to a lack of effort or ability of having “it.”  

For one thing, Brown may have needed more time to fully recover from breaking his Hamate bone last spring—an injury which can sap a player’s power and make hitting uncomfortable for a while.  Dom likely also struggled due to a lack of confidence and security in his spot within the organization.

The front office showing very little confidence in Brown is really hurting his development in my opinion, as is the lack of a guaranteed opportunity.  Dom would probably be pressing a lot less if Ruben Amaro and Charlie Manuel stood firmly behind him and said that he’d have a reasonable opportunity at the beginning of the year to show that he’s worthy of starting for the Phils.

So maybe Brown really isn’t ever going to amount to anything worthwhile at the Major League level. Maybe he just isn’t the answer, and is a victim of being too hyped too early.  But we’ll never know that for sure if we never see him play.

There’s still a good chance Dom can bring the youth and offense he was supposed to into the Phillies lineup, and besides, do the Phillies other left field options really excite you that much?

The Phillies just have to let him play, and if he doesn’t have it at least they can cut their losses earlier and try and get something in a trade while he’s young rather than let him play in AAA until he’s 27. 

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Phillies Trade News: 10 Reasons Philly Will Regret Trading Wilson Valdez

The Phillies most likely will not miss Wilson Valdez. Freddy Galvis appears poised to play at some point, and they have Michael Martinez in the organization.

The team will not miss Valdez, they will just miss parts of him. Because of that, there will be some regret that he is gone.

Here are 10 things that will cause the Phillies to regret trading the utility infielder.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Where Do They Turn for Offense If Ryan Howard Flops?

The Philadelphia Phillies led MLB in wins in 2011 with a franchise record 102. They have sold out a team record 204 consecutive games, and that record doesn’t look like it’s going to end any time soon. 

The Phillies have the best pitching staff in baseball, and they backed up that claim last season when they finished with the lowest ERA in MLB. They were the odds on favorite to win the National League and bring home another World Series trophy. 

They came out on fire in Game 1 of the NLDS, scoring 11 in one game, but their offense again fluttered in the postseason. They only managed 10 total runs in the next four games. 

Charlie Manuel and GM Ruben Amaro have spoken at length this offseason about a new approach and mindset to the Phillies offense. Well, the offense hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders (albeit without Chase Utley and Ryan Howard) but are we really to assume that all is well with the Phillies lineup when the “Big Piece” returns?

Here is where Phillies Nation can look for help if Ryan Howard is a non-factor in 2012.

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25 Scrappiest Philadelphia Phillies Players of All-Time

What in the world is a “scrappy” player?

Sort of sounds like a breakfast meat, though I assure you this slide show has absolutely nothing to do with scrapple. Then again, I suppose there is an analogy to be made here. Scrappy players have been traditionally labeled as guys full of heart and lacking talent, kind of like the same way scrapple is lacking the best parts of the pig.

Okay, enough with the scrapple comparisons.

Scrappy players, as far as baseball is concerned, have always been the guys who played the game stuck in full throttle. They may not have been the most talented, but every play involving them was hardcore. The run hard, throw hard, and look mean doing it.

I suppose a good motto for scrappy players would be, “By any means necessary.”

Scrappy players have always been viewed a bit differently in Philadelphia, however. While the rest of the baseball world considers them to be players who make up in heart what they lack in talent, fans of the Philadelphia Phillies believe that “scrappy” is more of a lifestyle.

The most talented player in the world could be booed right out of this city for a lack of hustle, but a scrappy player will hold the hearts of the fans for a lifetime and then some.

That’s why there is no limit on talent level on this list. Any player that wants to survive playing baseball in the city of Philadelphia will have to become a scrappy player in one way or another, and that will be reflected in the slide show.

In short, any player known for his hustle, determination, aggressiveness, or any other synonym of the word “scrappy” was eligible for this list.

For news, rumors, analysis, and game recaps during spring training, check out Greg’s blog: The Phillies Phactor!

Follow @Greg_Pinto

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2012 Philadelphia Phillies: Hunter Pence Must Win MVP

First off, is Phillies‘ right fielder Hunter Pence the type of player that can win an MVP award or is he better suited to be a complimentary player? 

Everyone saw what happened to ex-Phillie Jayson Werth when he signed that huge contract with the Washington Nationals and was asked to be “THE man.”  Didn’t quite work out.  It’s not to say Werth isn’t a terrific player because I still believe he is.  But some players thrive being “THE man,” while others perform better being a complimentary piece.

So back to Pence.  The highest he has ever finished in MVP voting was last season finishing 16th. Without a doubt, he flourished in Philly.  In approximately half the amount of games he played in Houston, Pence came over and hit as many home runs as he did in Houston and his OPS ballooned from .828 to .954. Expand his Philly numbers out to a full season and this is what you would get:

                  AB    R    H     D    T    HR    RBI    AVG    BB    K    SB

Pence        621   105  201  36   6    33     105    .324      78    114   3

 

.324-33-105 are easily MVP numbers for a division champ and it’s just the type of year the Phillies need out of Pence if they are going to try and get another World Championship with this nucleus.

Can Pence put up those kind of numbers being the man?

In Houston, Pence was always surrounded by players like Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee & former AL MVP Miguel Tejada as the leading men. Last year after the trade, Pence had Chase Utley and two former MVP’s Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins leading the way. In 2012, it appears it’s his turn to step to the front of the line like Werth was asked to do in Washington.  How Pence reacts to that might determine how far this team goes.

Howard’s season is possibly in jeopardy while Utley’s health will certainly be a question mark for the remainder of his career.   Rollins is definitely a key figure for the Phillies but he hasn’t sniffed the 2007-type MVP numbers since that year.  Shane Victorino is a solid Major Leaguer but doesn’t do quite enough to put a team on his back and carry them.  Classic complimentary player.

Pence isn’t the type of guy who will shy away from the burden of carrying the team.  He quickly became a fan favorite in Philly for his “balls to the wall” effort, enthusiasm and catchy “Good game, let’s go eat” quote.

The NL East should be more competitive this season.  Atlanta has a solid rotation, impressive young players to add to veterans Dan Uggla, Brian McCann and Chipper Jones, and a stellar back of the bullpen that will enable them to win a ton of tight games. 

The Nationals are getting better every season and their rotation is talented and deep.  New manager Ozzie Guillen and free agent signee Jose Reyes should provide the Marlins with a much needed spark.  If their pitching can stay healthy, specifically ace Josh Johnson, the Marlins can have one of those “out of nowhere” seasons like their World Series titles in 1997 and 2003.

The Phillies won’t be able to coast to another NL East title on Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels alone.

It was amazing to see a team win 102 games last season and not really have an MVP candidate.   Halladay/Lee/Hamels carried this team throughout the season but it’s rare to see a division winner without some sort of offensive MVP threat.  It shows you how impressive the Phils’ pitchers were in 2011. 

Phillies fans have been lenient and understanding with this nucleus of talent and divisional dominating run they have been so blessed with the past five years.  But the last two seasons have ended in agonizing disappointment.  The 2012 squad does have enough talent to win it all.  It just might take a little more from the lineup minus some key figures to get this done.

Weight of the World….. meet Hunter Pence, Hunter Pence….. meet Weight of the World.  If the two of you become the best of friends, the Phillies might be parading down Broad Street yet again.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: All 25 Players’ Odds of Being 2012 All-Stars

People often say that the Philadelphia Phillies field a team of All-Stars.

Of course, that is normally a backhanded statement about the state of the club’s spending and payroll, and about how easy it is for the Phillies to pay for All-Star caliber players, but at its core, that’s a true statement. The Phillies do field a team full of players with All-Star experience.

Every one of the Phillies’ everyday players outside of catcher and left field have been to the All-Star Game, and there is an argument to be made that Carlos Ruiz should have been there at least once.

Three starting pitchers of the Phillies’ five-man rotation have been to the All-Star Game, and new closer Jonathan Papelbon has been there four times.

The Phillies’ two biggest contributors off of the bench this season against right-handed and left-handed pitching, Jim Thome and Ty Wigginton, respectively, have each been to the All-Star Game at least once.

So when people say that the Phillies can field an All-Star team, it’s true. Though they may indeed have a bloated payroll, 12 of the 25 players on their active roster have been to the Midsummer Classic. With that kind of roster, you expect the Phillies to send plenty of players to Kansas City this summer to represent the National League, but who will they be?

Well, it’s time to find out.

This slide show will look at each Phillie’s chances of making an All-Star appearance this summer. To do so, we will break down the case for or against each player and assign a percentage chance to represent the possibility (or probability) of All-Star representation.

For news, rumors, analysis, and game recaps during spring training, check out Greg’s blog: The Phillies Phactor!

Follow @Greg_Pinto

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Philadelphia Phillies: Will Huge Cole Hamels Extension Mean Victorino’s Exit?

The Philadelphia Phillies had seven players reach free agency during the offseason, out of which only one primary starter, Jimmy Rollins, was re-signed by the team.

Following this season, the Phils may have two difficult decisions to make regarding players whose major contributions with the team date back to the 2006 season.

Both Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino are preparing to play the final years of their respective contracts and both have expressed their desire to remain with the Phils past this season. However, the Phillies may be attempting to re-sign Hamels before turning their attention to Victorino’s long-term future with the team.

Hamels went 14-9 with 194 strikeouts and a 2.79 ERA last season—the lowest ERA of his career.  Hamels also finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting. The 28-year-old is 74-54 for his career, with 1,091 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA, all of which has occurred in a Phillies’ uniform.

Hamels and the Phillies agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract to avoid arbitration, but the free agent-to-be may get a contract closer to $20 million per season after he signs a new long-term deal.

That may be a high price for the Phils, a team that is trying to remain below the league’s $178 million luxury tax threshold. However, Hamels and the Phillies have both expressed their interest in reaching a long-term deal and have had initial negotiation discussions during spring training.

But if re-signing Hamels means pushing the team’s payroll to its limit, can the Phils also afford to re-sign Victorino to a long-term deal?

Victorino, who has been with the Phillies since 2005, batted .279 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI last season. The 31-year-old reached a career high in triples with 16 and hit the second-highest home run total of his career last season. Victorino is also set to become one of the top free agent center fielders.

If Hamels re-signs, the Phillies still may have options for re-signing Victorino, as well.

Placido Polanco, who is set to make over $6 million this season, and Joe Blanton, who will make $8.5 million, can become free agents following this season. By not attempting to re-sign both players and signing Hamels to a long-term, back-loaded contract, the Phils may be able to stay below the luxury tax threshold after the signing. 

The team may then risk exceeding the tax threshold in order to re-sign Victorino, while trying to stay below the $189 million mark for the 2014 season. Following the 2013 season, the league’s luxury tax threshold increases from $178 million to $189 million.

If the Phillies exceed the luxury tax threshold in 2013, but stay below it in 2014, the team would then revert back to first-time offender status the next time it exceeds the threshold.

After finishing last season with a payroll just under the $178 million threshold, it could be difficult for the Phils to re-sign both Hamels and Victorino without exceeding the limit next year. However, if the team stays under $189 million for its payroll, it may only have to pay the tax for one season.

The Phillies may also decide that with a $5 million option in Carlos Ruiz’s contract, as well as potential replacements needed at third base and in the starting rotation following this season, the team’s money may need to be spent in other areas.

Players such as Hunter Pence and Chase Utley are also set to become free agents within the next few offseasons.

If Hamels signs a contract worth over $100 million, the Phillies would have three players with contracts worth that amount. The Phils may then have to decide between another contract potentially worth $50 million for Victorino, or even more for Pence. Offering both contract amounts may be too much for the team while attempting to leave room for possible mid-season acquisitions.

The Phils could also find themselves in a solid position if John Mayberry, Jr. proves he is capable of being a full-time starter in the major leagues and if Domonic Brown finds success at either the major league or Triple-A level. If both players have strong seasons, the Phillies may have options in the outfield if they decide not to re-sign Victorino.

The Phillies may have their sights set on re-signing Hamels first and then turning their attention to Victorino and other expiring contracts. While signing Hamels may not definitively mean Victorino’s exit from the Phils, it certainly won’t make re-signing him any easier.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies Trade Scenarios: 5 Power Hitters They Should Pursue

As spring training enters its eleventh day of games for the Philadelphia Phillies, one thing has become very clear: the Phils have nothing to worry about when it comes to starting pitching depth and speed options off the bench. While Phillies hitters have been hitting for average (Freddy Galvis, Hector Luna, and Scott Podsednik are all looking pretty good) and the bullpen is shaping up behind Jonathan Papelbon (who has been a stud), there is one thing that the team still desperately needs: power.

Granted, the team signed Jim Thome and brought in Laynce Nix and Ty Wigginton over the course of the offseason, and all three are known primarily for their power bats. However, it’s just not cutting it right now. The team’s current leader in home runs is the aforementioned Luna, who likely won’t even make the 25-man roster unless the front office pulls out a trump card. And while Hunter Pence is tied with Luna in that department—both have hit two dingers over the last ten or so games—Pence hasn’t hit one out since the second game of the spring. Without Ryan Howard in the fold, the Phillies don’t have that true slugger on their team, and until Howard returns, they need someone to fill the void.

Yes, six other players are tied for second place with a home run each, including Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz, but the team currently lacks a true power hitter, a guy who can just step up to the plate and smack a home run. Thome is that in essence, but he has yet to hit a homer this spring and his health is always a question. The team needs someone who can both fill a positional hole and come as a threat to hit one out of the park in every at bat. Right now, the team doesn’t have anyone. But there’s always the trade market…

In this piece, we’ll go in depth on a few potential power bats the team could pursue via trade. Whether someone as simple as a pinch hitter-type or an everyday player in the last year of his deal, we’ll explore all possible avenues, whether or not they’re necessarily 100 percent realistic.

If you don’t agree with some of the decisions (which you likely won’t), share your thoughts on who the Phillies should go after. And off we go…

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