No Opening Day: Ex-Major Leaguers Struggle With Retirement

Todd Helton now regularly drives his two daughters to school or other activities back home in Tennessee, a huge life change for Colorado’s former All-Star first baseman.

Bangor Daily News

Phillies Showing Interest In Dennys Reyes

So, it’s not surprising that a major-league source says the Phillies are pursuing one of the most experienced lefty relievers on the market: Dennys Reyes, a 14-year veteran.

Fox Sports

Checking The Numbers: Low Risk, Any Reward?

Back in my sabermetrics infancy at the "Statistically Speaking" blog, one of the first articles I wrote shared the title above and investigated low-risk pitcher signings from 2002-07 in an attempt to determine how frequently these moves positively affected teams, as well as the rate of dollars per win doled out to the players in question.

Baseball Prospectus

Jamie Moyer To Have More Surgery, May Not Be Ready For Beginning Of Season

Meanwhile, lefthander Jamie Moyer, plagued by hospital visits this off-season, is preparing for another. The 47-year-old pitcher is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday.

Philadelphia Enquirer

Phillies Could Eye Kiko Calero, Question John Smoltz Health

Free-agent right-hander Kiko Calero went 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 60 appearances last season with the Florida Marlins.

Phillies Official Site

Checking The Numbers: Swinging Role Reversals

Last week, we took a look at swingmen, those pitchers that spend a decent amount of time in both the rotation and bullpen during the same season, doing so as a means of gauging the true expected performance differential when a pitcher shifts roles in either direction.

Baseball Prospectus

Phillies Talk With John Smoltz's Agent

On the last full day of the winter meetings, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. continued his aggressive pursuit of modestly priced pitching.

Philadelphia Enquirer

Phillies Not Interested In Aroldis Chapman

A report earlier today had the Phillies interested in Cuban pitcher Ardolis Chapman, but a team source said the Phillies are not interested.

The Zo Zone

John Smoltz, Placido Polanco Among Players On Phillies Radar

With catcher Brian Schneider signed and veteran utilityman Juan Castro expected to sign a 1-year contract after a physical tomorrow, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he is turning most of his attention toward filling out the team's big needs at third base and on the pitching staff - and confirmed that veteran John Smoltz is being discussed.

Philadelphia Daily News

Ruben Amaro Jr. Comments On John Smoltz Rumor, Jamie Moyer Out Of Hospital

"I guess he'd fit the bill (of low risk, high reward). We've talked to several agents about a bunch of different guys. But we don't talk about specific guys unless we're signing them. But he would kind of fit the ball, certainly. I'm not sure if that's a role he wants to play, but we've had some discussions with some of those guys who could give us some more pitching depth."

The Zo Zone

Prospectus Today: Pen Man Free Agents Review

I've ordered the relievers the same way I ordered players in the first three pieces in this series. With that said, variance really swamps the difference between any couple of places here, so don't get too caught up in one guy being listed above another. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Baseball Prospectus

Phillies Could Bring Miguel Cairo Back; Eye Mark DeRosa & Placido Polanco

The Phillies are looking at Mark DeRosa, Placido Polanco and Adrian Beltre as possibilities to be their new third baseman. DeRosa and Polanco seem to be good fits because of their reputation as good workers and good teammates, and because they could come relatively cheaply compared to other third basemen on the market.

Phillies Official Site

Market For Free Agent Fireman Will Be Lively

Relief pitching, as usual, will be one of the busiest counters in the free-agent department store. The category isn't nearly as star-driven as it was a year ago, but there are plenty of quality arms available to make for a lively scene.

MLB

Phillies Weigh Options As Free Agency Looms

Let's catch up with where the Phillies stand as teams can sign free agents beginning Friday.

First, some important dates to know:

Phillies Official Site

Miguel Cairo Files For Free Agency, Milt Thompson Invited Back

Brett Myers, Pedro Martinez and Miguel Cairo also filed for free agency on Friday.

Phillies Official Site

Miguel Cairo Cracks Phillies Playoff Roster

The Phillies had some surprises Tuesday when they announced their 25-man roster for the National League Division Series.

Phillies Official Site

Prospectus Today: Post-Season Bullpens

The more you watch the likely post-season teams close out their seasons, the more you think we might be in for some very long nights next month. The number of teams with questions about their bullpens seems to be awfully close to the number of teams who will get to play in October.

Baseball Prospectus

Phillies Have No Interest In John Smoltz

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies had no interest in 42-year-old righthander John Smoltz, who was released by the Red Sox. "Right now, we do not," he said. "That may change. But right now, probably not."

Philadelphia Enquirer

Reds' Bronson Arroyo Is Gambling On Supplements Despite The Risk

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo reaches into his locker, pulls down a clear cellophane bag and slowly opens it.

USA Today

What's Left For Skip Schumaker?

The bases were loaded in the sixth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals had one of their several opportunities to chomp into the Philadelphia Phillies lead Tuesday night. Working with a short bench, manager Tony La Russa still responded to the Phillies call to lefty Scott Eyre from the bullpen by removing his two-way glove, Skip Schumaker, in favor of a righthanded pinch hitter.

Birdland