Liberty Ball

The Phillies avoided arbitration with relief pitcher Geoff Geary when they signed him to a one year, $837,500 contract.  Geary gave up his share of hits (103 in 91 1/3 innings) but a low walk rate kept his WHIP (1.35) under control.  He was a workhorse out of the pen though.  He threw in half of the Phillies games and racked up over 90 innings.  If he manages a repeat in 2007, then this will be money well spent.

PECOTA expects a slight downtick in 2007.  Geary’s weighted mean average has him at a 1.41 WHIP and a 4.24 ERA with a slightly higher walk rate.  Still, Geary is expected to eat up some middle innings and he should be good for that again.