Closer to Free

Deal for Lidge Sends Myers Back to the Rotation, Hopefully for Good

IDEALLY KILLING two birds with one stone, Pat Gillick improved both the rotation and the bullpen with one trade last night. Brad Lidge, a comfortable, experienced closer, and utility man Eric Bruntlett come to Philadelphia from Houston in exchange for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and a minor leaguer with little upside. Lidge's acquisition will return Brett Myers to the starting rotation, where the hope is he'll combine with Cole Hamels for a potent 1-2 combination. Lidge's troubles last season -- he lost the Astros' closer's job for a while -- give me some pause, but by most accounts he's a quality ninth-inning guy with great stuff and a strong desire to start over someplace new. Far more important, the team's biggest weakness -- the starting rotation -- was improved without having to spend a dime of free-agent money.

Comments

[bill]

I could not agree more. Myers is better than any other starter out there...I never agreed with moving him to the bullpen anyway.