Newz Forum: BASEBALL: Phillies 'pen in Wagner, Rodriguez for '05

PHILADELPHIA -- Closer Billy Wagner and reliever Felix Rodriguez will be back with the Philadelphia Phillies for another season.

The Phillies exercised an option Friday for Wagner that will pay him $9 million next season. Had Philadelphia not exercised the option, Wagner would have been owed a $3 million buyout and would have been eligible to file for free agency.

Rodriguez notified the Phillies that he will exercise the 2005 player option that was part of his contract. Rodriguez, acquired from the San Francisco Giants in July, will be paid $3.15 million next season.

Rodriguez would have been eligible for free agency had he not exercised the option.

"One of the strengths of our team is our bullpen, and having both Billy and Felix under contract allows us to focus on other needs going forward," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said.

Wagner went 4-0 with 21 saves and a 2.42 ERA this past season, which was abbreviated due to two extended stints on the disabled list. He missed a month early in the season with a strained left groin muscle and then missed another six weeks with a strained left rotator cuff.

Rodriguez went 5-8 with one save and a 3.29 ERA in 76 games for both the Phillies and Giants.