Lieber Officially a Phillie

Appearing in my inbox several minutes ago:

To: ballssticksstuff@gmail.com
From: phillies@lists.mlb.com

Subject: Breaking News: Phillies sign RHP Jon Lieber

Free agent pitcher Jon Lieber, who won 14 games for the New York Yankees last season, has signed a three-year contract with the Phillies. The 34-year-old right-hander will receive a three-year, $21 million guaranteed contract.

Lieber posted a 14-8 record and 4.33 ERA in 27 starts in 2004. He ranked first in the American League with 0.9 walks per nine innings (18 walks in 176.2 innings). He was 5-0 with a 3.12 ERA in his final six starts and won seven of his last eight decisions.

Further information found on Phillies.com is encouraging:

Lieber has also been one of the best control pitchers in baseball, issuing only 18 walks in 176 2/3 innings last season while striking out 102, for a 5.2-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He also has a tendency to induce ground balls, making him another good fit for cozy Citizens Bank Park.

The strong k/bb and gb/fb ratios are certainly encouraging.  Detractors will point out Lieber's age and recent Tommy John surgery, but we are at the point now that pitchers routinely pitch into their late thirties coming off of such procedures.  Whether you choose to compare Lieber to the departing Eric Milton or the departing Kevin Millwood, you see that this upgrades the pitching staff.  Lieber is not the ideal acquisition, and even though he is signed for three years, he is not a long-term solution to stabilizing the Phillies staff -- Ed Wade missed that boat. The Phillies will be better with him in 2005 than they were in 2004, this is a small to medium sized plus.