The Phillies have reportedly signed RHP Jose Contreras to a one-year deal, pending a physical. It took some time but you had to know Amaro would sign an ageing vet. At 38, Contreras qualifies. (Speaking of which, how is Jamie Moyer doing?) At a reported $1 million for the year, it sounds like one of those low-risk, high-reward deals Ruben's been preaching. This GM keeps rolling.
It was odd to see Victorino with hair, but that was the offseason look he was sporting at his press conference. And speaking of hair, how likely is it now that the Phillies will be able to extend super-stud Jayson Werth? In the last year of a two-year deal, Werth is poised to become a superstar. And he may be the first of this immensely popular group of guys to leave on his own.
Megabucks loom for the talented outfielder but the Phillies have pretty much maxed out their revenue streams. Several high-priced teams are no doubt already thinking about him in their outfield. After yesterday's presser for Victorino, Ruben Amaro, Jr. talked about the impossibility of having $15 million players at each position. This all goes to point up the fact that as great a job as Ruben's done, his biggest challenges are yet to come.
