The Phillies made a low-key signing this week, adding left handed reliever Dan Meyer to the roster by signing him to a minor league contract. Meyer, who will be 29 years old this season, has only seen extended action in the major leagues for one season. In 2009, he appeared in 71 games and finished with an ERA of 3.09, with opponents batting just .219 against him. Meyer walked just 21 batters that season, and gave up only 20 runs in 58.1 innings.
After being Florida’s primary left handed option in 2009, Meyer struggled with his mechanics in 2010. In just 13 games, Meyer had an ERA above 9 and had given up 10 runs and 10 walks. He spent most of the season in the minor leagues and Florida decided to let him walk as a free agent after the season ended.
Meyer now gets a chance for a fresh start with an organization that has done a good job of finding useful relievers from the scrap heap. No one thought much of J.C. Romero or Scott Eyre when the Phillies brought them into the organization. Boston had given up on Romero, and Chicago had given up on Eyre. Both players had high ERAs and simply weren’t getting the job done before they came to Philadelphia.
Romero turned out to be a key figure in the bullpen in 2007, and 2008. He was one of the team’s most reliable relievers before injury and control problems caused him lose his effectiveness.
Eyre was an effective option in 2008, and with Romero on the shelf due to suspension/injury in 2009, Eyre enjoyed the best season of his career posting an ERA under 2.
The Phillies have also seen relievers lose their effectiveness one year, and regain it the next. The obvious example of this is Brad Lidge who recovered from what was one of the worst seasons ever by a closer in 2009 to become a reliable option again in 2010.
If the Phillies could revitalize the careers of Lidge, Romero, and Eyre, why couldn’t they do the same for Meyer? Ultimately, the Meyer signing may turn out to be nothing. Maybe he spends a season in the Phillies minor league system, and then moves on without even sniffing the big league roster. But given this team’s track record of finding gems off of the scrap heap, and considering how desperate they are for left handed relief, and how little flexibility Ruben Amaro may or may not have with the payroll, Meyer will certainly have an opportunity to win a roster spot in spring training.
Not a bad pick-up at all, Low Risk, High Reward. and is from the Swedesboro/Woolrich Twp area..
across the bridge in SOuth Jersey..