Money didn't affect Moyer decision, source says

CHICAGO - Yes, Jamie Moyer's contract is laden with incentives based on innings pitched and starts accumulated.

But no, the team was not in any way influenced by money when it decided to bump Moyer out of the starting rotation, according to a person with direct knowledge of the Phillies' thinking.

A separate baseball source confirmed yesterday that Moyer's contract, worth $13 million over two years, contains incentives based on innings and appearances.

Moyer would receive an additional $250,000 for his 150th inning this season, 160th, 170th, 180th, and 190th.

Also, his 2010 salary would increase by $250,000 if he reaches 150 innings and 23 starts this season. Moyer has 1231/3 innings pitched and 22 starts.

These dollar amounts do not represent a sum large enough to influence a decision for a team attempting to defend a World Series championship. The Phillies signed Pedro Martinez for about $1 million to replace Moyer in the rotation and are paying both Adam Eaton, a pitching flop, and Geoff Jenkins, a released outfielder, about $9 million this season, among other expenses for players who were or are not on the roster.

If the Phils felt that Moyer was among their five best starters, they would "absolutely" have kept him in the rotation, according to the source with knowledge of the team's thinking.

Moyer did not mention money as a reason for his frustration Tuesday, when he said general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and owner David Montgomery "misled" him during contract negotiations last winter, leading him to believe he would not be sent to the bullpen.

He declined to take questions after delivering his comments.

Amaro issued a statement Tuesday through a team representative, declining to comment on player contracts. Attempts to reach Montgomery through a team representative yesterday were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the coaching staff was working on a plan to help Moyer with the transition to relief work.

"He is used to his routine as a starter," said manager Charlie Manuel, who added that Moyer would not be available until tomorrow.

"He would come to the ballpark real early, and he would go through a big exercise, like riding a bike, things like that," Manuel said. "I think down in the bullpen, it would be hard for him" to have the same routine. "Those are the things I'm concerned about."

Pitching coach Rich Dubee said he and Moyer were trying to work out a new routine that would involve throwing side sessions and keeping sharp in case Moyer was needed to start later in the season. (Moyer threw a side session yesterday.)

"This is going to be a trial-and-error thing," Dubee said. "He's as consistent as anyone can be with his arm exercises and stuff, but there has to be a little change in his routine."

Brad Lidge has answered questions about leading the major leagues with seven blown saves this season, but said Tuesday night that he remained confident.

"I know that I need to do better," Lidge said after the Phillies defeated Chicago, 4-3, on a Ben Francisco home run in the 12th inning.

The win came despite another disheartening outing for Lidge, who allowed the Cubs to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. He remained one of the top concerns for a team hoping to succeed in another postseason.

"But I also feel pretty good right now," Lidge said. "Results are important, there's no question about it, and I haven't been getting the results that I want or that our team needs.

"At the same time, sometimes you feel like you're really far off and sometimes you feel like you're not. I don't feel like I'm really far off, and hopefully, it's going to start turning for me."

The Phillies will hold a workout at Citizens Bank Park this morning for seven unsigned draft picks, including Brody Colvin, a highly regarded righthanded pitcher. Colvin was selected in the seventh round and has a commitment to play for Louisiana State.

Outfielder Wander Nunez, the team's 48th-round pick, who played high school baseball at Frankford last season, also will be there. The deadline to sign draft picks is 11:59 p.m. Monday.