Link: ESPN.com - MLB - Jayson Stark - Phillie Phlash: Gordon agrees to three-year deal.
The Phillies and free agent reliever Tom Gordon agreed to a three-year, $18-million contract Thursday night, according to a baseball official familiar with the negotiations.
The Yankees and another team, believed to be Texas, made a late run at signing Gordon. But when the Phillies offered to guarantee him a third year and allow him to go back to closing, that apparently sealed the deal.
As I've written already, Tom Gordon in the closer's role is a dicey proposition, mostly due to his age and the mileage on his arm. Gordon is the equivalent of the used BMW you see for sale at an affordable price in your neighborhood. It looks to be in great shape, but has 200,000 miles on the odometer. In other words, it might be safer to buy a new Civic for the same price. But, on the other hand, the Civic won't accelerate and handle like the Beemer...Decisions, decisions...
...This is why Pat Gillick get's paid the big bucks and I am tapping out this post in my pajamas.
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Yes, I know everyone and their brother will be taking a spin on Stephen King's book for the title's of their posts today, but it is just too good a headline reference for me to pass up.
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This morning, The Missus shouted down to me from upstairs as I was brewing some java, "Hey Tom, I'm sure you heard, but the Phillies have a new closer." At that point, I had not heard the news. "Tom Gordon," she added, "hat tip to The Missus!"
So, to give credit where credit is due, a tip of
