Phillies Will Reportedly Sign Chad Durbin to Only Minor League Deal

The Philadelphia Phillies have interest in relief pitcher Chad Durbin staying on their team for the 2011 season… As long as he signs a minor league deal. The 33-year-old Durbin has pitched 194 games for the Phillies in the past three seasons. He was a key contributor to the 2008 world champion team, posting a 5-4 record and a solid 2.87 ERA. He struggled in 2009, as his ERA rose to 4.39 and he walked 47 batters in just 69.2 innings. But he rebounded nicely in 2010, winning four of five decisions, posting a 3.80 ERA, and cutting his walks down to 27 in virtually the same number of innings. Durbin is due to make $2.13 million in 2011 and I’m surprised the Phillies aren’t willing to pay him. He’s also been in talks with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays about signing with them, but in the major leagues. Based on Durbin’s success for the past few seasons, he would be a top three or four reliever for most major league te...