Diamond Outfitters Holiday Sale

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Be sure to visit the Diamond Outfitters Holiday Sale at Bright House Networks Field for amazing deals on Threshers and Phillies merchandise plus other great gift ideas.

Here are some of the great offers:

* Buy 1 get 1 FREE on Fitted Hats

* 60% off all adjustable twin hats

* 60% off women and children’s merchandise

* 60% off men’s polos

* 50% off fleece blankets

* $1 Stocking Stuffers

* $1 picture frames

Diamond Outfitters is open Monday to Thursday from 10 am- 3 pm. Hurry out because the store closes for the holidays on December 21.

Several Former Threshers Invited to 2007 Phillies Spring Training

The Phillies announced that they have invited 19 non-roster players to Spring Training.

Several former Threshers are on the list:

P Joe Bisenius

OF Greg Golson

C Tim Gradoville

P J.A. Happ

Some other notable names on the list are Andrew Beattie, Kane Davis, Kyle Drabek, Jason Jaramillo, Lou Marson, and Randall Simon.

For the rest of the list and more information about each of the players please visit Phillies.com.

Former Thresher Alfredo Simon selected in 2006 Rule 5 Draft

The 2006 Rule 5 Draft has been completed.

It doesn't appear that it will have much of an effect on the Clearwater Threshers at present. However, former Thresher Alfredo Simon was selected with the 5th pick by the Baltimore Orioles. Simon spent most of the 2004 season with the Threshers before he was traded by the Phillies to the San Francisco Giants organization.

Simon struck out 107 batters in 134.2 innings and had a 3.27 ERA in 22 games for the Threshers.

MLB.com has a .pdf of all the 2006 Rule 5 draft picks that can be found here.

UPDATE 12/8/06 at 10:00am: Simon has been traded back from the Orioles to the Phillies.

Former Clearwater catcher Mike Lieberthal agrees to one-year deal with Dodgers

The Dodgers have signed Mike Lieberthal to a one-year deal.

Lieberthal had spent his entire career with the Phillies organization including a 16-game stint in 1991 with the playoff-bound Clearwater team. Lee Elia was his manager at the time.

Former Thresher Joe Bisenius may end up in Philly's bullpen in '07

Ken Mandel of MLB.com has a story up that talks about the Winter Meetings, the Rule 5 Draft, and Joe Bisenius.

"He's throws hard, touching 97," said Steve Noworyta, director of Minor Leagues. "Any time you have a guy throwing that kind of number, you have to give him a look."

Noworyta said Bisenius is generally in the 92-94 mph range, but brought the gas on a night when he was being watched. Bisenius is looked at as a long shot to make the bullpen, but Noworyta said he might be factor at some point in 2007.

Eventually, he might be a closer.

"Possibly," he said. "He's got the makeup. When he crosses the line, he turns into a different person. His fastball is dominant."

Check out the whole story here

Former Clearwater Top Pitching Prospect Gavin Floyd traded to White Sox

The Phillies and the White Sox completed a trade yesterday at the Winter Meetings at Lake Buena Vista which sends former Clearwater star Gavin Floyd (and a player to be named later who apparently is Double-A pitcher Gio Gonzalez) to the White Sox for Freddy Garcia.

Floyd was with the Clearwater team in 2003. He struck out 115 batters in 138 innings and had a 3.00 ERA in 24 games.

Here are some links from around the country about the trade:

MLB.com

Chicago Sun-Times

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark

Philly.com