The Phillies have announced the signing of 30 year old pitcher Chad Billingsley to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract. Last week Jim Salisbury had reported that the Phillies had interest in Billingsley and as has been the case much of this off season, they add another low risk/high reward arm to their staff.
Billingsley thrived for most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a mid-rotation starter with a career 3.65 ERA. He was very effective in 2008 pitching to a 3.15 ERA over 200 innings and helping to lead the Dodgers to the NLCS where (as we all know) he eventually succumbed to a powerful Phillies line up. His strong first half in '09 lead to him making the NL All Star Team. The past two seasons he has battled injuries and while rehabbing last season in the minor leagues, he was shut down for season ending surgery.
A local tie is that Billingsley lives in Reading in the off season which probably helped spark the interest between both him and the Phillies who were looking for another starter. Billingsley will wear number 38.
In a corresponding move the Phillies announced that Cesar Jimenez has been designated for assignment to make room for Billingsley on the 40-man roster.
