The Phillies have come to minor-league contract agreement with free agent righthander Kris Benson.
The contract is pending a physical.
The Phillies have seen Benson throw three times this off-season: once in December and twice recently in private sessions with Phillies scout Chuck LaMar. LaMar said today Benson only is throwing at 60 to 70 percent, which makes it seem doubtful he can break camp with a spot in the Phillies rotation. In fact, LaMar said Benson could be ready anywhere from Opening Day to June 1.
You can listen to LaMar's interview with reporters by clicking here.
You can also listen to Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., talk about the Benson signing by clicking here.
Comments (28)
Good, another arm without breaking the bank. No downside, even if he is from the scratch and dent aisle.
Suspect we will see him sometime during season.
Posted by jimmymack | February 13, 2008 3:30 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:30
Finally. Yipeeee..... :)
Posted by RJ | February 13, 2008 3:32 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:32
Wow! You can't compain about a minor league deal.
Posted by B Dub | February 13, 2008 3:46 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:46
I'll take it... Gillick is KING of Dollar Store shopping. Hopefully it will work out.
P.S. - New name for the blog? ... "Zologging the Phillies"!!!!
Posted by Mike McNesby | February 13, 2008 3:52 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:52
since it is a minor league deal, it shouldn't bug anyone. i would bring in a few more guys too. throw a bunch at the wall and hope a few stick. can't hurt.
Posted by timm | February 13, 2008 3:53 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:53
Are he and Anna still officially married? I'm going to need a nice picture of her in a Phillies jersey and hat.
Posted by Frank | February 13, 2008 3:59 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:59
This is good news. I don't see how the Phillies can lose. And, as I wrote over at my place, can you imagine Anna Benson in Allentown? They'll give her the key to the city.
Posted by Tom G, ballssticksstuff.com | February 13, 2008 3:59 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:59
The courtship began way back in early November, and it's finally come to fruition.
http://pabaseball.blogspot.com/2007/11/kris-benson-phuture-phillie.html
http://pabaseball.blogspot.com/2007/11/ho-ho-ho.html
http://pabaseball.blogspot.com/2007/12/benson-in-hd-oh-my-oh-me.html
Posted by GM-Carson | February 13, 2008 4:22 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 16:22
This is a non-event. He may or may not make it to the big club. They really need to sign Lohse and quit fooling around.
Posted by Phillyex | February 13, 2008 4:50 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 16:50
loshe blows
if healthy benson is a better pitcher.
I say gobble up colon as well with the same deal.
Posted by Bryan | February 13, 2008 4:54 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 16:54
To gobble up Colon, we'd need a combination of Joey Chestnut, Kobayashi, and El Wingador.
Posted by xfactor | February 13, 2008 5:09 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 17:09
I don't understand why they let Hernandez get away. The Twins just signed him for 5 million for 1 year. He was 11 and 11 last year with an ERA under 5. I'd have signed him for that and let him and Eaton fight for the 5th spot. He'd look real good as the 5th starter or long relief.
But I'm glad they got Benson with a minor league deal.
Posted by Joe | February 13, 2008 5:45 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 17:45
jimmymack- "antoher arm w/out breaking the bank"
Why the hell do you care how much this organization spends? You may be the biggest fool posting here.
They let Hernandez get away, Lohse is still out there(no I'm not a big fan but at least he could push Eaton NOW). THE DIVISION is strong and our Phillies pursue a strategy that is destined to fail. A strategy of hanging in the pack and hoping another team stumbles.
This is B.S.
Why aren't the masses pissed. If you guys (and the lovely Norma) stopped backing this loser strategy and forget about last year and look at this one you would be as passionate as I.
You could then consider yourselves true sport fans as opposed to brainwashed minions.
We are this close and the "braintrust" is giving it away. No Clearwater for me. I'm going to Sanabel instead.
jimmymack-you are an idiot....
Posted by Truth | February 13, 2008 6:14 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 18:14
Decided to modify my Blog. Phillie Phannies
Posted by Bob | February 13, 2008 6:34 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 18:34
Boras is going to make Lohse his "collusion" case poster boy. The Phillies management is incredibilly incompetient. Ask the coach who he wants. Cole Hammel with icepacks after a long toss? He's history........
Posted by jay segovia | February 13, 2008 6:39 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 18:39
Another from the scrap heap. You figure with all the bums in our rotation after Hamels and Myers you would think one or two will turn out OK. The Braves and especially the Mets have superior rotations.
Posted by The Wiz | February 13, 2008 7:01 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 19:01
It's a good deal on Benson - low risk, high reward. He has a track record of some success and he'll have real motivation to prove himself.
I agree that Gillick does well with the off-season bargain hunting(Werth, Dobbs) and mid-season moves (Conine, Moyer, Iguchi, Romero), even if his big off-season acquisitions (Garcia, Eaton, Helms) don't always pan out. I'll give him more than the benefit of the doubt here.
Posted by Steve | February 13, 2008 7:28 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 19:28
Gee, Truth.....Thanks for the *props*. LOL!
Posted by Norma | February 13, 2008 7:31 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 19:31
The team the Phils beat last year by one game in the N.L. East, the Mets, sign Johan Santana, the best pitcher in baseball, on Feb 2. The Phils respond 11 days later as only the Phils can by signing the surgically repaired right arm of Kris Benson to a minor league contract in hopes that he can rebound from 60%-70% of himself currently to a credible starter by June 1st. Makes Sense to Me.
Posted by Steve D | February 13, 2008 10:14 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 22:14
On the signing of Kris Benson. It is a good thing there is no limit to the number of players a team can place on the DL at any one time. It could be very crowded there this year for the Phils.
Posted by peter m | February 13, 2008 11:07 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 23:07
I agree with Steve D. You've got to spend a little and quit calling yourself a small market team. Look what Detroit did this offseason. To win you need to have a quality starting rotation! The Phils don't and it's a shame. No excuse for losing Eric Bedard. David Montgomery needs to commit to winning. Wondering whose going to come through at #3, #4 and #5 is a whole lot worse than having the studs who will come through. Doesn't our season ride on that?
Posted by Larry Phillips | February 13, 2008 11:08 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 23:08
I'm not sure I see the downside to this deal. It's a minor league contract. if he stinks, release him.
I have no problem with killing the Phillies, but let's be realistic. They didn't/don't have the farm system depth to get one of the big three that got traded this offseason (Santana/Haren/Bedard). No one not building for 2009 is moving a #1-#2 starter. I wouldn't have paid Carlos Silva $12 million per year. Would I like to see Kyle Loshe back her? Yes, but even if he does come back can any of us really be sure he has a better year than Eaton did last year?
I wonder if it wouldn't have taken one of the big three to get a big time pitcher back and the question is how would all of us react if the Phils traded a Ryan Howard or a Chase Utley?
Please don't tell me about how we could get Josh Beckett for Burrell, Helms and Bruntlett-there's a reason I don't listen to WIP!
Posted by KMG | February 13, 2008 11:25 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 23:25
One clarification to my last post- I meant to say does anyone know that Lohse has a significantly better year than Eaton did last year.
Posted by KMG | February 13, 2008 11:27 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 23:27
Eaton was pitching with injuries last year and won ten games. I would'nt be surprised to see Eaton win 12-15 games this year.
Posted by doublee | February 13, 2008 11:47 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 23:47
Blog name: The Philly Zoo
Posted by Mario | February 14, 2008 3:26 AM
Posted on February 14, 2008 03:26
Truth, why so much butthurt?
Posted by TampaxJackson | February 14, 2008 6:22 AM
Posted on February 14, 2008 06:22
Gee Truth, tell me how you really feel. LOL. Being called an idiot and a fool by you is quite the early Valentine's Day card...
Try Aruba instead of Sanabel, much nicer. And thanks for not coming down to Clearwater, I can't imagine listening to you pontificate at the Tiki Bar after a game.
Posted by jimmymack | February 14, 2008 9:51 AM
Posted on February 14, 2008 09:51
Hey Truth, my sister lives on Sanibel. Give her a shout-out from me.
Posted by Norma | February 14, 2008 7:47 PM
Posted on February 14, 2008 19:47