Phillies Sign Veteran Pitcher Chad Billingsley

The Phillies have agreed to terms on a deal with free agent pitcher Chad Billingsley on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million according to a press release sent by the team.

“As has been the case throughout this offseason, we have attempted to create as much starting pitching depth as possible at both the major and minor league levels,” said Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.  “Given Chad’s track record, we feel he is an excellent candidate to bounce back as a productive starting pitcher.”

Mike Gill talks about why the Chad Billingsley deal makes sense:

Billingsley did not pitch at the major league level in 2014 due to an elbow injury, but he is expected to be close to full health for the beginning of the 2015 campaign.

Phillies fans will remember Billingsley well, he pitched in six postseason games for the Dodgers, three of them coming against the Phillies.  Over a six-year span from 2007 through 2012, Billingsley averaged over 12 wins and nearly 180.0 innings per season.  In 37 career games (33 starts) against National League East Division teams, he has gone 14-6 with a 2.84 ERA and has held those teams to a .220 batting average.