When the season ended abruptly for the Philadelphia Phillies, fans of the team feared that shortstop Jimmy Rollins could have played his last game with the team. Now a free agent, Rollins has had some interest from the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals, but both of those teams went in other directions. A rumor has surfaced that Rollins could head to the Detroit Tigers, but CBS Sports has shot that one down.

Now the Phillies sign Willis, an old friend to Rollins, to be the team’s lefty specialist out of the bullpen. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, the Rollins and Willis “grew up in the same town, attended the same high school and both had mothers who played professional softball.”

From the sound of it, the signing may help the Phils land Rollins, who is running out of options, anyway: “He was probably more excited about the deal than I was,” Willis said of Rollins, the paper reports.

Let the rumors come to you. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.

Related: Jimmy Rollins, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals

By Jay King

– Newsdesk contributor

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Dec 7, 2011 – An old baseball adage says teams can’t have enough pitching. The Philadelphia Phillies could be testing that theory, according to Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal.

Already armed with a deep and talented staff, the Phillies are one of a dozen teams reportedly interested in dealing for Oakland A’s lefty starter Gio Gonzalez.

Philadelphia’s interest in Gonzalez is somewhat of a surprise considering that the Phillies rotation is already anchored by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, but Rosenthal suggests that acquiring Gonzalez could give Philadelphia insurance in case Hamels leaves via free agency in 2012. Adding Gonzalez could also potentially allow Philadelphia to dangle Hamels as trade bait during the final season of his contract.

Rosenthal reports that the Tigers, Diamondbacks, Marlins, and Reds are also known to be interested in Gonzalez. The Blue Jays, Nationals, Red Sox, Rangers and Rockies are also looking to add pitching and could be intrigued by the prospect of dealing for Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was 16-12 last year with a 3.12 ERA. He was a Phillies farmhand in 2005.

For more Philadelphia Phillies coverage, visit our team page, or our blog The Good Phight.

Read More: Gio Gonzalez (P – OAK), Philadelphia Phillies

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By SportsDirect

POSTED: 6:42 am MST November 21, 2011

The Philadelphia Phillies need to try their best to re-sign pitcher Ryan Madson(notes).

Does that seem like too simple a statement to make? It’s not and here’s why:

A long way from Long Beach

When Ryan Madson was 17-years-old and living in Long Beach, Calif., the Phillies made him their ninth round draft choice.

After a number of years of minor league seasoning, he broke into the major leagues in 2003.

Initially, he wanted to be more than just a bullpen arm.

During a much different baseball time, the team’s starting rotation had plenty of room for experimentation. As a result, Madson started 17 games in 2006.

The 11-9 record he had that year was respectable. But, the 5.69 ERA he posted revealed that his repertoire of pitches was being forcefully addressed the second time opposing lineups saw his stuff.

So, it was back to the bullpen for him full-time in 2007.

Building the bridge to Lidge

Hall of Fame General Manger asked his assistant, Ruben Amaro, Jr., to reconnect with his old mentor Ed Wade during the 2007 offseason.

After Amaro did so, Wade dealt Brad Lidge(notes) to the Phillies.

While many combined transactions created their 2008 championship run, that single trade was arguably the lightning bolt that struck Citizens Bank Park gold.

Madson appeared in 76 games during the Phillies indelible run. While he was on the mound during those late-inning contests, Charlie Manuel had already asked his pitching coach Rich Dubee to get Lidge ready for the ninth.

Thus, the ‘Bridge to Lidge’ was built.

Recent history

During the past few years, Madson has continued to serve in a set-up role. During that time he secured his place among the best in the game at what he did.

In 2011, he stepped in to assume the closer’s role after Lidge and Jose Contreras(notes) both faced serious health issues.

The numbers he posted included a 4-2 record, 32 saves and 2.37 ERA. That type of continuing effort will help him to secure a closer’s role for many years to come.

Boras

Ruben Amaro, Jr., now general manager, knows that negotiating with Scott Boras won’t be easy.

Like any good agent, Boras is looking for a maximum return for his client.

At 31, Madson is in the prime of his career.

Sure, someone like Heath Bell(notes) is obtainable and might be able to do as well as Madson.

But, why sell the car you are driving if it regularly gets you to where you need to go?

The Phillies are going to experience significant change at many roster positions. With the money and a known quantity both available, offering Madson a contract should not be a question.

As to whether he accepts the offer, or signs with a team like the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres or an American League team, is another question.

Read his Sports Blog: Insight and follow him on Twitter @SeanyOB

More from this author and the Yahoo Contributor Network:

When Baseball Cards were King

Five eye-opening Phillies’ statistics

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Can Phillies’ second baseman Chase Utley ever be ‘The Man’ again?

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – The Philadelphia Phillies announced
updates on several injured players Friday, including first baseman Ryan Howard
and pitcher Cole Hamels.

Howard, who ruptured his left Achilles tendon on the Phillies’ last at-bat of
the postseason, had stitches removed on Tuesday and began his rehabilitation
program in Philadelphia, progressing to partial weight bearing.

Hamels had his stitches removed on Thursday from surgery to remove loose
bodies in his pitching arm. The lefty also had a follow-up exam for his hernia
surgery and has been cleared to progress back to his regular offseason
program.

Third baseman Placido Polanco and outfielder Hunter Pence are each recovering
from surgeries to correct sports hernias and are continuing their
rehabilitation programs. Polanco is rehabbing in Miami, while Pence is
recovering in Philadelphia.

Right-handed pitcher Jose Contreras is recovering from a right forearm strain
and will begin isometric forearm strengthening next week. He is on track to
progress to regular strengthening in the beginning of December and initiate
throwing at the beginning of January.

Ross Gload, who was mainly used a pinch hitter for the Phillies, was evaluated
by Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York on October 18 for an issue with his hip, but it
was determined an arthroscopic procedure was not needed at this time. The 10-
year veteran was set up with an offseason rehabilitation program.

The Sports Network

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels
has undergone two expected surgeries, the team said Friday.

The left-hander had loose bodies removed from his pitching elbow and underwent
a procedure on an inguinal hernia.

The Phillies said in a tweet that Hamels, who was 14-9 with a 2.79 earned run
average for the NL East champions, should begin throwing in 3-4 weeks.

On Wednesday, first baseman Ryan Howard had surgery to repair a torn left
Achilles tendon. Howard was injured while grounding into the final out of
Philadelphia’s Game 5 loss to St. Louis in the NL divisional round.

The Sports Network