From Jim Salisbury ...
Pedro Feliz passed his physical and officially became a Phillie today.
"I'm excited to be in Philadelphia and be part of this team,"' the 32-year-old third baseman said at a news conference at Citizens Bank Park. "It's good to be part of a team that won a division championship last year. I think this is a team that can do it again."'
Feliz signed a two-year contract worth $8.5 million earlier this week. The deal includes and option for a third year.
Feliz spent the first eight years of his big-league career with the San Francisco Giants. He has hit at least 20 home runs in each of the last four seasons and has had 84, 81, 98 and 72 RBIs in the same span. He is a career .252 hitter with a .288 on-base percentage.
Feliz is a strong defensive player. He joins Gold Glove shortstop Jimmy Rollins, second baseman Chase Utley and first baseman Ryan Howard in what assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. called the best infield in the majors.
"It's great to be in the infield with Rollins, Utley and Ryan," Feliz said. "It's going to be a lot of fun. I'll give 110 percent. I hope everything goes well."'
Feliz will wear uniform No. 7.
(Check out Salisbury's full story in Friday's Inquirer.)
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Ryan Howard talks about being in a video game -- MLB '08: The Show.
From a Phillies Press Release:
Jakub Sladek, a 17-year-old first/third baseman from the Czech Republic, is the first known European player signed by the Phillies, Marti Wolever, Director, Scouting announced today.
A left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower, Sladek is a native of Prague and currently attends Gymnazium Nad Stolou. He stands at 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs in at 220 lbs.
“We’re very pleased to sign our first-ever European player,” said Wolever. “Jakub has a physical presence about him and a left-handed bat that has a chance to be an offensive threat. He’s surprisingly athletic for his size. He has a lot of upside and at 17 years old, he has plenty of room to develop.”
Additionally, the Phillies signed Todd Van Steensel, a native of Sydney, Australia. Van Steensel, also 17, is a right-handed pitcher out of The Hills Sports High School.
“We liked his composure on the mound and his size and strength,” said Kevin Hooker, the Phillies’ scout in Australia. “Todd’s mid-80’s fastball at age 17 suggests more to come.”
Van Steensel is the latest native Australian to be acquired by the Phillies. He joins lefthander Travis Blackley, outfielder Chris Snelling and seven other minor league players, including infielder Brad Harman and righthander Drew Naylor.
Comments (13)
not to mention the best outfield with victorino at anchor
Posted by jordan | January 31, 2008 7:16 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 19:16
It will be even sweeter this year when the Mets choke.
Posted by phillywilly | January 31, 2008 8:55 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 20:55
Well its official, now we trade wessy for a decent prospect!!
Posted by clinton, nj | January 31, 2008 11:43 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 23:43
Well, according to Zo, we won't have to Czech on the Phillies 3rd baseman for years to come. It's so nice to know the Phillies have scouts in Eastern Europe. Now if they only had scouts in the Carribbean, South America, Japan and South Korea, maybe we could sign a few more prospects.
Clinton, I wouldn't count on getting much for Helms. Maybe a bag of balls if the Phils are lucky.
Posted by jrquixote | February 1, 2008 12:38 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 00:38
Maybe they can get a few cases of beer for Helms and forward one to me. :)
Posted by Jared in RI | February 1, 2008 2:18 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 02:18
With all this talk about Feliz' hitting flaws I'm surprised no one has found his numbers from CBP. Anyone out there have that info handy?
Posted by Joe | February 1, 2008 8:13 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 08:13
if helms actually hit for something we could sell him as a first basemen and/or third. he'd be better at first but that doesn't mean anything because most teams power hitters play first and I know tee-ball pee-wee hitters that could hit more homers at CBP than Helms.
he gets dealt for maybe a draft pick or cash considerations. I thing chris roberson had more value than helms did because he was faster.
Posted by Anonymous | February 1, 2008 8:33 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 08:33
Feliz has 1 HR and a .283 average in 53 AB in CBP. Not too much to go on, and he is going to be in a much better lineup with the Phils.
Posted by Mike | February 1, 2008 9:42 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 09:42
Any ball in the infield is caught, any ball that should be a pop-up will be a home run. Should be interesting. I think they should trade helms for a massage therapist to make sure everyone stays healthy.
Posted by Chris | February 1, 2008 10:01 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 10:01
Here is how I have it broken down:
1st base - Phillies (by a little over Braves)
2nd - Phillies
SS - Phillies
3rd - Mets (by a little over Braves)
C - Braves
RF - Braves
CF - Mets
LF - push
Pitching: Pretty close - if Hamels has the same year he is on Santanas
level (look at the numbers) and better than smoltz now
Myers could be as good as a rehabbing Pedro and a Tim Hudson (maybe not).
Closer - on paper Wagner is better - but we all know about him, so I am
calling it a push as well.
Posted by Chris | February 1, 2008 10:07 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 10:07
Thanks Mike, the .283 at CBP in encouraging.
Posted by Joe | February 1, 2008 11:07 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 11:07
Chris, that was unintentionally funny- I think Helms should be traded not for a massuese- but a chriropractor for holistic Hamels-lol....
Posted by Truth | February 1, 2008 11:51 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 11:51
I think they should trade Helms for Truth, after all according to his post yesterday he is a former athlete....
Posted by False | February 1, 2008 12:41 PM
Posted on February 1, 2008 12:41