Phillies, Dontrelle Willis Agree To 1-Year Deal

PHILADELPHIA - The "D-Train" is pulling into Philadelphia. Multiple reports have the Phillies signing former all-star and one-time Marlins hurler Dontrelle Willis.

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick was the first to report the news Tuesday morning that the team was "close to agreement" on a one-year deal. He says the deal would be for about $1 million plus performance bonuses.

A person familiar with the deal later told the Associated Press the team and lefty have agreed but it's all pending a physical.

Willis is expected to pitch out of the bullpen for the Phillies, who have won five straight NL East titles.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 225-pound pitcher spent his first five seasons with the Marlins. In his 2003 rookie season, he won 14 games along with the NL Rookie of the Year and a World Series. He then went on to win 22 games in 2005 and finish second in Cy Young Award voting.

Willis, who turns 30 next month, has since traveled to Detroit, Arizona and Cincinnati.

He struggled to a 10-15 record in 2007 with a 5.17 ERA and barely pitched 100 innings in almost next three seasons in Detroit, posting an ERA under 5.00 just once.

His Arizona stint in late 2010 wasn't much better, as his ERA was 6.85 and he walked 27 batters in 22 innings.

Last year in Cincinnati, he got the ERA back down to 5.00, although he went 1-6. Perhaps more importantly, he struck out 57 in 75.2 innings and his walk rate fell back below one for every two innings.

His career numbers are 75-69 with a 4.17 ERA.

Willis could be effective as a lefty specialist. He struck out 20 lefties, walked just two and allowed them to bat only .127 off of him last season.

However, he's made just three relief appearances in 205 career games.

Willis is also a good-hitting pitcher, batting .244 with 28 exta-base hits (nine of those home runs) and 39 RBIs in his 389 career at-bats. Last year in 31 ABs, he hit .387 with an OPS over 1.000.

The Phillies have yet to officially comment on the reports, but an MLB.com story confirms the signing. And it notes that Willis and Phillies free-agent shortstop Jimmy Rollins attended Encinal High School in Alameda, Calif., and "Their families know one another well."