Guest wsc425 Posted February 11, 2003 Share Posted February 11, 2003 02/10/2003 4:01 pm ET Adams, Phillies avoid arbitration By Ken Mandel / MLB.com Terry Adams went 7-9 with a 4.35 ERA in 136 2/3 innings last year. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies reliever Terry Adams agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract on Monday, avoiding a Feb. 19 salary arbitration date. Adams, 29, was the team's final arbitration-eligible player. His salary marks a $200,000 raise from what he earned last season and could be more with incentives. "We're glad to get Terry done and be removed from the arbitration hearing process," general manager Ed Wade said in a statement. "It was great to have Terry decide to come back to us after filing for free agency." Adams is slated as the team's main setup man for closer Jose Mesa. Should Mesa falter, Adams could also close games. He joins relievers Turk Wendell, Rheal Cormier and Dan Plesac in what Wade called a "solid, veteran-oriented back end of the bullpen." The right-hander, who began his career as a reliever, became a starter with the Dodgers in 2001. That offseason he signed a $2.7 million contract with Philadelphia to be the team's No. 3 starter. His contract would have ballooned to $4.8 million and vested at $5.4 million for 2003 if he had pitched 170 innings. Terry Adams / P Height: 6'3" Weight: 215 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits phillies.com The starting experiment didn't work out, but Adams flourished after returning to the bullpen in late July. He regained his form and posted a 2.38 ERA in 34 innings in a setup role. Overall, he went 7-9 with a 4.35 ERA in 136 2/3 innings, 5.00 as a starter. Left-hander Hector Mercado also agreed to a split contract. He will make $330,000 on the Major League roster or $204,000 if he pitches in the minors. Acquired at the end of Spring Training in 2002, Mercado went 2-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 31 games -- including three September starts. He spent the season shuttling between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia. The team also agreed to terms with right-hander Eric Junge and outfielder Jorge Padilla. The first day teams can renew contracts is March 2. Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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