Welcome Back, Chad Durbin!

Please excuse the following outburst of unbridled enthusiasm for a move that many may view as not very exciting:  The Phillies have signed our old friend Chad Durbin!!!!  Whoo hoo!!!!  Durbin was a big part of the 2008 World Championship team; he spent the last 2 years with the Indians and the Braves.

Durbin adds much needed depth and maturity to the Phillies bullpen.  In his first stint with the Phillies, he was known as the intellectual of the bullpen group.  He has a great personality and is extremely fan-friendly, as well.  Durbin was one of my personal favorites for those reasons and I am glad he is back!

Durbin, 35, did very well with the Braves last year, pitching in 76 games with a 3.10 ERA.  His new contract with the Phillies is for 1 year with an option for a second year.

The Phillies also signed a utility infielder this week to a minor league deal.  Yuniesky Betancourt, who turns 31 in a few days, will join the team for Spring Training.  He hit .223 with the Royals last year, but was designated for assignment in August when the team manager, Ned Yost, became unhappy with his attitude.  “Yuni did a great job for us. But he was a guy that wanted more playing time, and he would get upset when he didn’t,” Yost said.

So add Betancourt to the Phillies list of problem children headed to camp next month.  If nothing else, Spring Training looks a lot more entertaining now!

Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography