Phillies sign Jose Contreras to one-year deal

Posted on January 22, 2010

Jose Contreras of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on September 17, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

The Philadelphia Phillies announced this afternoon that they have signed free agent pitcher Jose Contreras to a one-year deal. The 38-year-old right-hander was 5-13 with a 5.42 ERA in 21 starts for the White Sox before getting traded to the Rockies in late August.  Contreras put up a 1.59 ERA in seven games for Colorado in the regular season, including two starts.  The veteran also made two appearances for the Rockies in their postseason series against the Phillies.

Contreras made a big splash when he signed with the Yankees out of Cuba in 2003 and put together his best season in 2005 for the White Sox when he helped lead them to the World Series title with a 15-7 record and three wins in the post season. Contreras has always been fun to shoot, both on the mound and in the dugout. He has such a great face and was pretty animated when I shot him last year in Oakland on Turn Back The Clock Day (see above and below).

I have no idea how much Contreras has left in the tank, but one thing is for sure- the Phillies fans will let him know immediately if he is pitching well or not at the beginning of the season as they will waste no time in cheering him or booing him. They will let him know as only Philadelphia fans can.