The Philadelphia Phillies have declined 40-year old righty reliever Jose Contreras’ option for the 2013 season valued at $2.5 million bucks. Contreras pitched in only 17 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year due to injury and he was 1-0 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He pitched in 101 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Phillies and he was 7-4 with 9 saves, a 3.74 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. This isn’t much of a loss as Contreras is still rehabbing his elbow.

The Phillies have declined 35-year old righty swinging infielder Ty Wigginton’s option for the 2013 season valued at $4 million bucks. They instead paid him $500,000 bucks to leave. Wigginton played in 125 games for the Phillies last year and he was 74 of 315 (.235 avg, .688 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 1,315 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 1,161 of 4,422 (.263 avg, .762 OPS) with 549 runs scored, 169 homers, 591 RBIs and 42 stolen bases. Wigginton shouldn’t have a problem finding a new job over the winter, but the Phillies won’t miss him too much.

The Philadelphia Phillies have picked up the 2013 option on 33-year old righty swinging catcher Carlos Ruiz, valued at $5 million bucks. Ruiz played in 114 games for the Phillies last year and he was 121 of 372 (.325 avg, .935 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 16 homers, 68 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 733 games in his first seven years with the Phillies and he is 616 of 2,238 (.275 avg, .781 OPS) with 274 runs scored, 52 homers, 299 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. This was a no brainer for the Phillies as Ruiz just keeps getting better every year with the bat.

The Phillies have lost 27-year old righty reliever David Herndon on waivers to the Toronto Blue Jays. Herndon pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He pitched in 97 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Phillies and he was 2-8 with 1 save, a 3.85 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. This is the second pitcher (Tyson Brummett) that the Jays have swiped off the Phillies already during the post-season.

The Phillies have lost 28-year old righty reliever/starter Tyson Brummett on waivers to the Toronto Blue Jays. Brummett pitched in 1 game for the Phillies this year, working 2/3 of an inning giving up 2 hits and 0 runs while whiffing 2 batters. He also pitched in 44 games (8 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Phillies this year and he was 5-6 with 2 saves, a 3.20 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Brummett pitched in 194 games (83 starts) in his six years with the Phillies and he was 26-47 with 7 saves, a 4.52 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. This isn’t much of a loss for the Phillies.

29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jason Pridie has elected to leave the Phillies as a free agent. Pridie played in 9 games for the Phillies this year and he was 3 for 10 (.300 avg, 1.000 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Pridie has played in 121 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 51 of 222 (.230 avg, .685 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 5 homers, 23 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. This isn’t going to be much of a loss for the Phillies.

The Phillies have acquired 22-year old righty swinging 2B Stefan Jarrin from the Dodgers to complete the Joe Blanton deal. Jarrin played in 26 games in Rookie ball last year and he was 19 for 91 (.209 avg, .667 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers, 9 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 49 games in his first two years in the minors and he is 32 for 152 (.211 avg, .644 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 3 homers, 16 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Well, it doesn’t look like the Phillies got much for Blanton.

32-year old righty swinging infielder Hector Luna has rejected an outright assignment to the minors by the Phillies and he has become a free agent. Luna played in 28 games for the Phillies this year and he was 14 of 62 (.226 avg, .628 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 10 RBIs. Luna has now played in 339 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 208 of 794 (.262 avg, .699 OPS) with 104 runs scored, 15 homers, 96 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Luna might hook on with another team for September.

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired 21-year old righty reliever/starter Ryan O’Sullivan from the Dodgers to complete the Joe Blanton deal. O’Sullivan came into this season as the Dodgers’ #23 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 29 games (9 starts) in A+AA-ball this year and he was 8-6 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. O’Sullivan has now pitched in 32 games (12 starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 8-7 with a 3.34 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. This was a pretty good get for the Phillies, as O’Sullivan has a nice upside.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed 30-year old righty swinging C/1B Jake Fox. Fox played in 63 games in Independent ball and in AAA-ball for the Pirates this year and he is 60 for 203 (.296 avg, .875 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 9 homers and 36 RBIs. He has played in 193 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 116 of 489 (.237 avg, .714 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 20 homers and 73 RBIs. Fox could help the Phillies in the near future.