The Daily Philadelphian

Eric Gagne will have a tryout with the Phillies.

If this is what the search to complete the Phillies bullpen has come to, we’re in a ballpark full of trouble this summer.

Former all-star closer Eric Gagne has indicated that he has a tryout lined up with the Phillies. While it can never hurt to kick the tires of an old car to see what it has left, you likely wouldn’t buy the car if it’s been in a few accidents and has a questionable service history.

That, in a nutshell, is Gagne.

While the official line will be that Gagne is trying out for a minor league deal, make no mistake: If the team signs him, they will plan on having him join the big club at some point. They won’t use a minor league spot on a 34-year-old who has no chance to appear at Citizen’s Bank Park this year. That’s what the Camden Riversharks are for.

As the Daily News’ David Murphy points out today, Gagne saved 161 games in five years with the Dodgers (2002-2006).  However, 2007 and 2008 were a totally different story for gagne. He fell apart while with Boston at the end of the 2007 campaign. Then, while with the Brewers, the former dominant closer was anything but. He had a 5.44 ERA in 50 appearances.

He spent last year out of Major League Baseball.

In December 2007, Gagne was named in the Mitchell Report for buying and using HGH (human growth hormone).

The fact that his stats took a downward spiral later in his career, and around the same time as the Mitchell report, has to make one wonder whether he was ever the dominant closer he appeared to be. At the very least, it has to make you think he’ll never be a viable solution for a championship team trying to round out their bullpen.

Before trying to get another old reliever on the cheap (Danny Baez), maybe the Phils should give Chan Ho Park more money.

Eric Gagne isn’t worth the minimal tread left on his expired tires.