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Phillies Sign 36-Year-Old Aaron Harang
By Jim Adair
Published:
The Phillies, in their “rebuilding” efforts, have a lot of holes in their roster. Usually, when you’re trying to rebuild your team and see who is good for you in the future, you fill those holes with young guys who may blossom into something. But sometimes you need Major League talent just to get through the season and eat up innings (perhaps literally in this case). So you fill those holes with 36-year-olds. Aaron Harang, who spent a majority of his thirteen-year career as a Cincinnati Red, was signed by the Phillies today to a one year, $5 million contract.
Harang went 12-12 in 33 starts last year for the Braves, posting a 3.57 ERA and 7.1 K/9, with 3.1 walks per nine.
“Aaron brings a wealth of experience and durability to our rotation,” Ruben Amaro said in a statement. “[He] will complement the left-handers in our rotation nicely.”
So while your mindset of “let’s see what these young guys have to offer” may bring you to some games next year, you’ll have to take the risk that one in every five or so games will be hurled by a 260 lb. 36-year-old.
When he's not writing about sports here or ranting about them on Twitter, Jim is probably watching X-Files on Netflix or drinking a beer somewhere. Jim has nothing against hockey, it's just not his style. He once met Duce Staley at a Sixers game.