PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies spent a few bucks on a closer when they signed Mike Jackson away from the Cleveland Indians but that did not stop them from re-signing Jeff Brantley today.

Brantley, who started the 1999 season in the role reserved now for Jackson, today agreed to a return to the Phillies. He had been a free agent.

The one-year deal is worth a guaranteed $250,000, which would double if he makes the 25-man season-opening roster. With roster and performance bonuses, Branley could earn as much as $2,750,000, and even more with award bonuses.

"I left here last week thinking what a good bullpen we could have if Mike Jackson, Jeff Brantley and Wayne Gomes were on the back end of it," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said.

The contract of Brantley, 36, was structured this way because of his perennial battle to stay healthy. The righthander's 1999 campaign was limited to 10 appearances and 8 2/3 innings as he needed surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

"Jeff is making great progress in his recovery from surgery and he gives us three guys who have significant closer experience," Wade said. "We now have real depth for the seventh, eighth and ninth innings."

Branley was 1-2 with five saves and a 5.19 ERA for Philadelphia last season.

He underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in the anterior portion of his shoulder in June 1997 and has been on the disabled list at least once every year since the start of the 1996 campaign.

He recorded a career-best and league-leading 44 saves with the Cincinnati Reds in 1995 but was limited to only 13 games in 1996 and 48 the following season with St. Louis. He was dealt to the Phillies in a five-player deal in November 1998.