The Phillies Fan Union Newsletter The December 4th, 2006 Edition Membership as of December 3rd, 2006: 110,022

___ FEATURE STORY Adam Eaton is in. Randy Wolf is out, and Cole Hamels is poised to be the new ace. Pat wants to spend, but everyone wants other people's money. The off-season has been quite a reality check and you can't fault Gillick and Company for not making old Ed Wade type of decisions. Sir Patrick may not be finished, but don't expect a whole lot to be different on the field in Philadelphia next season. GET THE FULL STORY

 THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION Supporting the Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association ***Do whatever you can***This Week's Question: I was named TSN Player of the Year in 1981. I had phenomenal success with my "Fadeaway," screwball. I won a Silver Slugger in 1983 and a Gold Glove in 1986. I pitched for the Phillies, but for only one year. I am from Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico. Who am I? 

UNION NEWS:  NOT A MEMBER OF THE UNION YET? Join Us And spread the word! PFU HALL OF FAME VOTING - Have a favorite Phillie? Nominate him for the PFU Hall of Fame. The top two make it in. Feel free to use the Phillies All-Time Roster - Courtesy The Sports Cube THE NOMINEES ARE: Andy Seminick 13,978 Votes Mickey Morandini 13,801 Votes Dave
Cash 13,545 Votes Jim Fregosi 12,701 Votes VOTE HERE RESULTS OF THE WEEKLY SURVEY Is it time for the Phillies to give Carlos Ruiz a chance to be the club's starting catcher? Yes 71% No 22% Nor Sure 7%  GET THE BEST IN PHILLIES MERCHANDISE    PHILLIES
NEWS: 
SMITH IS PHILLIES NEW 3B COACH The Phillies named Steve Smith third-base coach last Monday. Smith replaces Art Howe, who left last month to become new Rangers manager Ron Washington's bench coach. Smith had spent the past five seasons as the Rangers' third-base coach and infield instructor. Smith also coached for Seattle (1996-99), and spent two seasons (2000-01) with Milwaukee as a roving infield instructor and Minor League manager. In 2000, he led Indianapolis to the International League championship. As a player, Smith spent seven seasons (1976-82) as a second baseman and shortstop in San Diego's Minor League system.
 
WOLF
SIGNS WITH LOS ANGELES Randy Wolf signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. The Phillies hoped the 30-year-old would round out the bottom part of the rotation after he spent the better part of last season rehabbing from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. The lefty went 4-0 with a 5.56 ERA in 12 starts in 2006. Wolf signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2008. The Phillies were believed to be offering more to retain him, but the lure of pitching for his hometown team was too difficult to resist. Wolf is from nearby Canoga Park, California and attended Pepperdine University. He still lives in the Los Angeles area. He went 69-60 with a 4.21 ERA in his Phillies career, which began in 1999.
 
PHILLIES SIGN EATON The Phillies signed free agent pitcher
Adam Eaton to a three-year contract worth more than $24 million. The contract includes a mutual option for a fourth year that could bring the overall package to more than $33 million. Eaton will make $6.875 million in 2007, $7.635 million in 2008, and $8.5 million in 2009. The deal also includes a $1 million signing bonus and there is a $500,000 buyout of the mutual option for 2010 and incentives clauses for each year. Eaton was the Phillies first-round pick and the 11th choice overall in the 1996 draft. Three years later the Phillies sent him to San Diego for RHP Andy Ashby. Eaton, 29, is 54-45 with a 4.40 ERA in parts of seven seasons with San Diego and Texas. 
 
DELLUCCI SIGNS WITH TRIBE The Cleveland Indians reached an agreement with former Phillies OF David Dellucci
on a three-year, $11.5 million contract. Dellucci will join another former Phillie OF in Cleveland as Jason Michaels also plays for the Indians. Dellucci, 33, spent last season as a pinch hitter and part time player after the Rangers traded him to the Phillies last April. He performed well in his limited role, hitting 13 homers and producing an .899 OPS in 264 at bats. A 10-year veteran, Dellucci has a career .348 on-base- percentage.
 
INDIANS SIGN FULTZ The Cleveland Indians signed LHP Aaron Fultz, who was with the Phillies, to a one-year contract with a club option for 2008. The Phillies elected not to offer Fultz, a Type-A free agent, arbitration. In doing so, Cleveland did not have to offer the Phillies any compensation for Fultz. Fultz's ERA jumped from 2.24 to 4.54
last season, but he still had a nice 62/28 K/BB ratio in 71 1/3 innings. Lefties have hit .240 off him in his career. The move does leave Pat Gillick with a spot to fill in the bull pen. It looks like Gillick feels he can get what Fultz can bring for less.
 
GILLICK AND CO. IN FLORIDA Major League Baseball's winter meetings are set to begin in Orlando, Florida this Monday. Pat Gillick wants to bring in a proven setup man who can occasionally close and also keep Tom Gordon fresh. Bull pen help is also on the menu with relievers Aaron Fultz, Arthur Rhodes, and Rick White not returning return. Gillick will, once again, shop LF Pat Burrell and there are reports that he will look into another catcher, though that is not deemed a priority. Also being mentioned is CF Aaron Rowand. The meetings are slated to run through Thursday.
Phanta Claus Coming To Philly - From The Phillies Lynx Coaching Staff Set For 2007 - From The Ottawa Linx Gross Joins R-Phils Coaching Staff - From The Reading Phillies Thresher' 2007 Schedule - From the Clearwater Threshers Game Worn Jerseys Now On Sale! - From the Williamsport Crosscutters
Former Phillie Jordan Joins Coaching Staff - From the Lakewood BlueClaws  
  
 Setting A Luxurious New Standard For Philadelphia Hotels...
 
 PHIL-INS
Pat Gillick said the Phillies were never in talks with Arizona for catcher Johnny Estrada, who was traded to Milwaukee, and they still have no interest in free agent Mike Piazza. 
The Phillies named Kevin Jordan manager and Ed Hodge pitching coach for Lakewood of the South Atlantic League, Brad Komminsk coach for Clearwater of the FSL, and Greg
Gross hitting coach and Jason Kirkman trainer for Reading of the EL. 
Former Phillies third base coach Bill Dancy will resume his role as minor league field coordinator, while Mike Compton, who held that position the last two seasons, will return to his prior position as catching coordinator. In addition to his coordinating duties, Compton will also serve as a special assistant to Dancy. Coordinators Gorman Heimueller (pitching), Don Long (hitting), Jerry Martin (outfield/baserunning) and Dave Owen (infield) will all return. Dong Lien was named the new minor league conditioning coordinator. 
Don't forget to vote for Richie Ashburn. 
Eude Brito retired five of the six batters he faced on Sunday and is sporting a 0.77 ERA in the Dominican Winter League. 
The Arizona Fall League: Phillies Prospect Wrap-up 
The Phillies offered arbitration to OF David Dellucci, but declined to offer arbitration to LHP Aaron Fultz, INF Alex S. Gonzalez, INF Jose Hernandez, C Mike Lieberthal, LHP Arthur Rhodes, and RHP Rick White. The Phillies will receive the Indians' third-round pick and a supplemental first-rounder once Dellucci's signing becomes official. 
The Phillies remain interested in pitchers Miguel Batista (as a reliever), Joe Borowski, and David Weathers. 
 The Giants are aggressively pursuing David Weathers, who was 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA for the Reds. 
Adam Eaton's best statistical season came in 2003, when he posted a 4.08 ERA in 183 innings, allowing 173 hits and 68 walks. 
The Phillies are leaning toward moving left-hander Fabio Castro back to the rotation next season. If
that's the case, he'll almost certainly start the year at AAA Ottawa. 
The Phillies denied a report that they're speaking to the Rangers about Pat Burrell. Burrell has said he'll only waive his no-trade clause for the Red Sox, Yankees, and West Coast teams. 
The Phillies have replaced last season'starters Gavin Floyd, Ryan Madson, and Cory Lidle with Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and, Adam Eaton. 
The Phillies are believed to still be negotiating with Joe Borowski on a 1-year deal. 
The Phillies are reportedly unwilling to deal young lefty pitching prospects Gio Gonzalez, Fabio Castro, James Happ, or Joe Bisenius, who hasn't pitched above AA. 
As the winter meetings begin, the Phillies have Geoff Geary, Ryan Madson, and possibly Matt Smith to bridge the gap to closer Tom Gordon. 
The Phillies are also showing interest in LaTroy Hawkins as Tom Gordon's set-up man 
Get coverage of Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings 
The Phillies are interested in Toronto OF Vernon Wells. They may not have enough to acquire him at the present time though. 
The Phils aren't optimistic about finding a setup reliever among the remaining free agent relievers, but do have some interest in a few for lesser roles, veterans such as David Weathers, Ron Villone, and Alan Embree. QUOTES OF THE WEEK "I could have gone to the highest bidder. But for me, going to the highest bidder wasn't the important thing. It was going to a place where I always dreamt of playing." - Former Phillies Pitcher Randy Wolf "It might be a situation where we don't fill our need for a hitter. I can't really make any assurances that we'll get a hitter in the next thirty days or the next sixty days. We're optimistic maybe prior to the season we can do something. But I can't really make any assurances or commitments that it's going to happen." - Phillies General manager Pat Gillick PHILLIES DID YOU KNOW The "Curt Flood Act of 1998". SEC. 2. PURPOSE. It is the purpose of this legislation to state that major league baseball players are covered under the antitrust laws (i.e., that major league baseball players will have the same rights under the antitrust laws as do other professional athletes, e.g., football and basketball players), along with a provision that makes it clear that the passage of this Act does not change the application of the antitrust laws in any other context or with respect to any other person or entity. Phillies 2006 Player Contracts - Courtesy Cot's Baseball Contracts MLB Standings - Courtesy Sports Illustrated Phillies 2006 Schedule/Results - Courtesy USA Today Up-To-Date Phillies Transactions - Courtesy Fox Sports Baseball Statistics 101 - Courtesy Baseball Almanac MLB Team Stats - Courtesy USA Today Phillies Farm Report - Courtesy Baseball America 
 
THE PFU FEATURE OF THE WEEK
 PHILLIES PITCHER ADAM EATON
 GET THE FOTW HERE! ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION: 
 Former Phillies Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela . 
 
 
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