The Phillies are nearing a one-year deal with Dontrelle Willis, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). The contract would be worth approximately $1MM and would include performance bonuses for Willis, a Sosnick Cobbe client.
Willis pitched 75 2/3 innings for the Reds in 2011 — his highest total since 2007. He posted a 5.00 ERA with 6.8 K/9, 4.4 BB/9 and a 54.5% ground ball rate in 13 second half starts with Cincinnati this past season. However, stats such as xFIP (4.08) and SIERA (4.29) suggest Willis' ERA may have been inflated. Willis, who turns 30 next month, signed a minor league contract last offseason.
This post was first published on December 13th, 2011.
