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Phils Acquire Wigginton From Rockies

In a trade with the Colorado Rockies, the Phillies have acquired multi-positional veteran Ty Wigginton. A 10-year Major Leaguer, Wigginton is a .265 career hitter with 158 homeruns with six different teams.

The 34-year-old first baseman/second baseman/third basemen/outfielder joins a Phillies team that was in need of a versatile offensive threat such as Wigginton that could fill in for the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Placido Polanco and become a solid presence in the five-time defending National League East division champions' lineup.

The right-handed hitting Wigginton, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 230 pounds, is slated to earn $4 million in 2012 with a club option for the same amount in 2013, with a $500,000 buyout.

In the deal, the Phillies are reportedly getting back $2 million, so essentially, Philadelphia will pay Wigginton $2 million in 2012. In return the Phillies will send back a player to be named later or cash.

The addition is a very good one for Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. who was long rumored to be interested in the similarly versatile and comparatively tenured free agent Michael Cuddyer, who is expected to draw considerably more money than Wigginton on the open market.

In 16 career games at Citizens Bank Park, Wigginton has a remarkable .296 batting average with 4 doubles, a triple, 3 HR, 7 RBI and a .941 OPS.

Also, in the three other National League East parks that Wigginton has had experience playing in to date, he has gone 33-for-146 (.226 avg) with 5 homeruns in 27 games.

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Image- MLB.com

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