Winter Meeting Roundup: So Long, Mr. Burrell

The World Champion Philadelphia Phillies (that’s STILL fun to say) made some pretty significant moves at last week’s MLB Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Here’s some of the items that rookie GM Ruben Amaro Jr. got done:

• Raul Ibanez will patrol left field next year for the Phillies. He signed a 3-year $31.5 million dollar contract last week. A former Mariners mainstay, the 36-year-old Ibanez hit .293 last year with 23 homers and 110 RBIs. The only concern is that the heart of the Phillies' order now is entirely left-handed.

• The Ibanez signing effectively ends the Pat Burrell Era in Philly, which is bittersweet to say the very least. Burrell understood our city better than almost any Philly athlete ever, endured more than most, produced infrequently, but came through when it mattered most to cap off his ten years here. Let's always remember him for leading the victory parade and not for the ass-out Pat Burrell strikeout dance.

• In a feel-good story, the Phils re-signed pitcher Jamie Moyer to a two-year deal which would suggest he'll finish his career with his hometown team, unless he pitches into his 90s which he may well do. This is a guy who started his career before Cole Hamels was even born AND led the Phillies in wins last year. He also does a lot to coach the younger pitchers and it's always fun to have a hometown guy on a team he loves being on. Welcome back, Jamie.

• The Phillies signed RHP Chan Ho Park to a one-year deal. There seems to be some disagreement over what his role should be as he sees himself as a starter and Amaro seems, anyway, to view him as significant bullpen help. It will be almost as interesting to watch how this plays out as it will to see how long it takes people to start making "Ho Park" strip club jokes. That's professional sports in 2008, fun for the whole family!

And finally, speaking of which...

The end of the Pat Burrell Era also means the end to the urban legend tales we've all heard about the man. You know the ones, the 4th hand accounts of things or deeds done or said by Pat Burrell in some kind of party atmosphere that no normal person could get away with. To pay tribute to the man, I will share my favorite which came from a friend of a friend of a friend (who swears it to be true) that she had a tawdry one-night stand with Mr. Burrell, presumably at some point before his nuptials. Anyway, as the tale goes, in the middle of the action, Pat stops, looks into her eyes, and says, "Can you believe it?"

"Believe what?" she replies.

"Can you believe you're f*@%ing Pat Burrell?"

Needless to say, we're going to miss Pat the Bat.

Image Credit: Flickr user phillymads63