Philadelphia spending $50 million on Jonathan Papelbon stands out in what has otherwise been a buyer’s market for relief pitching, but the Phillies got into the bargain-hunting action by signing Chad Qualls to a one-year, $1.15 million deal.
Jose Contreras’ health status is uncertain coming off elbow surgery, so Qualls can slide into his right-handed setup role in front of Papelbon and southpaw setup man Antonio Bastardo.
Qualls inked a one-year, $2.55 million deal with the Padres last offseason and threw 74 innings with a 3.51 ERA and 43/20 K/BB ratio. Because he called pitcher-friendly Petco Park home that ERA isn’t as impressive as it appears and Qualls’ strikeout rate was the worst of his career at age 32, but aside from a fluky 2010 season his annual ERAs are 3.55, 3.28, 3.76, 3.05, 2.81, 3.63, and 3.51 dating back to 2004.
