Willis must have a hell of a winning personality to keep getting chance after chance as he does.

I like Dontrelle. Baseball needs guys like him. He was pretty decent last year - 4.15 FIP in 75 innings. I think its the fact he's a former 20 game winner that keeps getting him chances.

For left field right?

Ba-da-bing! I'll be here all week, tip your waits!

Can't say I like his chances of cracking the Phillies' rotation.

Brought in for the pen.

Willis must have a hell of a winning personality to keep getting chance after chance as he does.

I thought that was pretty much a given.

But of course healthy pitchers who had one good year several seasons ago, should always get an nri if they are still in shape.

“I just want to say I owe the whole reds organization a great deal,’’

If he really respected the Reds he would have verbally capitalized their club name. It's Pujols all over again!

I'm glad he is staying the NL, dude can hit.

He did very well against LHB last year, and he did pretty well in general before running out of gas in September. He's a fine loogy/spot starter/PH.

He's a fine loogy/spot starter/PH.

Yup - versatility is the key here, as with the Wigginton and Nix pickups. With Blanton and Contreras coming off injuries, it's hard to predict exactly what they'll need pitching-wise. Willis can be a #5 starter, LOOGY, or long reliever, and he's an extra bat off the bench. He also gives them flexibility to shop Kendrick for infield help, which they might have to do if Rollins goes elsewhere.

He also gives them flexibility to shop Kendrick for infield help, which they might have to do if Rollins goes elsewhere.

Given their rotation strength, if they lose Rollins, shouldn't they just get a cheap all-glove guy for SS, and look to play low-scoring games?

The glove-only SS option is in-house (Freddy Galvis), but I'd want a better backup plan than Wilson Valdez if Galvis proves that he isn't ready. They'd probably wait to shop Kendrick until (1) they're sure Blanton is healthy and (2) a team with a solid extra infielder loses a SP to injury.

I'm glad he is staying the NL, dude can hit.

How often do LOOGYs get to bat?

If Contreras is healthy, he'll be the primary setup man, and Bastardo will be the primary LOOGY option (though he's more than that). If Kendrick and Willis are both in the pen, they can both go multiple innings, which could allow them to go with 6 relievers instead of 7 at times - a nice bonus to offset Thome's lack of a position off the bench. Your 6-man bullpen would probably be Papelbon (CL), Contreras (R/setup), Bastardo (L/setup), Kendrick, Willis, and Stutes or Herndon (one or both could shuttle back and forth between Philly and Lehigh Valley as needed).

He also gives them flexibility to shop Kendrick for infield help, which they might have to do if Rollins goes elsewhere.

Don't think they'll shop Kendrick, at least not for this option.

More likely that any Rollins connection runs along the line of bringing in one of his best friends, which sweetens the pot for a home team discount on any Rollins contract.

I wonder how many years would be left on his contract if he had never been traded away from the Cubs.

What do you think you're going to get for Kendrick? Bag of balls?

What do you think you're going to get for Kendrick? Bag of balls?

Hey, it was good enough for Jeter's, um, "dates."

Any chance of Willis pulling a Kieschnick and learning to play a little OF or 1B if necessary? That would be a cool experiment.

Like the signing. He can get lefties out, and gives you a little interesting flexibility. You can warm him up, have him come in, and not double-switch to get a bat in the3pitcher spot, since he is a decent bat. You could also warm him up, and have a plan where he pinch-hits for your righty pitcher in the inning, and stays in to pitch.