Phillies Sign Mesa
Jose Mesa agreed to a $6.8 million, two-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, trying to shore up a bullpen than had just 34 saves last season.
Mesa was 4-6 with a 5.36 ERA with the Seattle Mariners last season, losing his closer's job to rookie Kazuhiro Sasaki during spring training. Mesa appeared in 66 games, mostly as a setup man, and pitched 80 2-3 innings.
"I think he brings quality and depth to the back end of our bullpen," general manager Ed Wade said Friday.
Mesa gets a $1 million signing bonus, $2.4 million next year and $3.4 million in 2002. Performance bonuses could make the deal worth up to $9 million over two years.
Seattle declined a $4,133,333 option on the 34-year-old right-hander, instead electing to pay a $250,000 buyout. Mesa signed with Seattle as a free agent in November 1998.
Mesa is scheduled to stand trial Dec. 18 on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon.
In 1996, Cleveland police stopped Mesa in his car and found a gun in an unlocked compartment. Mesa was stopped because he was wanted on sex abuse charges based on allegations from two women. A jury later acquitted Mesa of rape, gross sexual imposition and theft charges.
Wade acknowledged Mesa's legal troubles.
"That is an issue that is out there, but from a character standpoint, from all the information we got ... this is a very good, high character guy. I do think he'll be an asset in the clubhouse for us," Wade said.
The Phillies did not promise Mesa the closer's job because they are pursuing left-hander John Franco.
Franco also could replace John Wetteland as the Texas Rangers' closer or could remain as a setup man with the Mets, who thus far have offered him only a one-year contract.
"I still hope to be able to add at least one more guy to the bullpen that's got veteran credentials," Wade said.
The Phillies bullpen woes played a factor in their dismal season. They signed Mike Jackson to be the closer, but he injured his shoulder and didn't throw a pitch all season. The Phillies offered Jackson a Triple A contract several weeks ago but have not heard back.
Mesa is 58-75 with 138 career saves and a 4.42 ERA in parts of 12 seasons. He led the American League with 46 saves in 1995 while with Cleveland and had 33 saves with the Mariners in 1999.
New Phillies manager Larry Bowa was with Mesa as a coach in Seattle last season and helped bring him to Philadelphia.
Despite Mesa's high ERA last year, Phillies scouts "felt he still had good stuff ... and with the pitches he's got and his command the numbers could have been better than what they were," Wade said.
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