Comments on: Phillies Agree To 1-Year Deal With Joe Blanton

By: From Section 113

From Section 113 — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:01:46 +0000

The Phills will be below the luxury tax this year. I believe ESPN reported the luxury tax for ’09 was $162 Million.

Still just because the max is that high doesn’t mean we can spend that much.

By: Manny

Manny — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:32:19 +0000

I’m slightly optimistic about Blanton… but very worried about the umps calling the games for Jamie Moyer.
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Based on what Chad Durbin did last season (2.88 ERA anyone?), he definitely deserves a considerable raise. But I haven’t seen much consistency in the years before ’08. Maybe both sides could agree somewhere in the middle (I’m thinking 1.7M) for one year.
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I think Jenkins will have a shot this season. He is a very good player who could get some good ABs. His numbers weren’t great but somehow he helped us win a good amount of nailbiters last season. Great attitude, too. But I think the fact that he’s a lefty in this team just kills him.

By: PhillyGirlinMichigan

PhillyGirlinMichigan — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:43:24 +0000

Joe – sounds like Chad needs a new agent who actually works. Hope its resolved soon. IMHO, it does appear the Philly offer is a bit low given what he did the last 2 years. Seems he’s been doing better & better since joining the Detroit org a few years ago.

Mike B – funny how no one really talks much about Jenkins anymore.. Is he still on the team? (scm)

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:26:01 +0000

Joe, who is his agent nowadays? Seems to me Chad wants to come back and be on the ball club for years to come, no?

By: Mike B.

Mike B. — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:48:45 +0000

I don’t think it’s a bad contract…and I believe Werth and Durbin can work it out…but I’m just bringing up this: if Werth and Durbin receive their asking price, then our payroll, as it stands, is $126 M. I got my numbers from the site below and filled in the salaries during this period for the people not on that list. My numbers are probably not entirely accurate, but they’re close. And we’re at $126 M IF Ryan Howard somehow ends up with $14 M instead of $18 M, which I find unlikely.

Since our payroll is going to be about $130 M, with buyouts of Gordon and Taguchi, will the Phils be slapped with a luxury tax? I worry about this, because I’ve no idea how our shadowy ownership group would react – would they cut spending? With that being said, just a little less than $15 M of it can be attributed to Geoff Jenkins and Adam Eaton. Damn them. If not for them, we’d have spending money.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/philadelphia-phillies_18.html

By: Andrew R.

Andrew R. — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:44:57 +0000

1 more thing. I think Blanton is similar to Jon Lieber, and he ripped off 18 wins for us, so I wouldnt be surprised to see that from Blanton.

By: Andrew R.

Andrew R. — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:44:07 +0000

Hey, lets lay off Blanton. He was one of the reasons we got to– and won the World Series. He is a decnt #4. I think we can all agree that he did not come over and blow us away but he did go 4-0, with a 4.20 ERA. Imagine if Eaton could give us a 4.20 ERA. And let us not forget that Blanton pitched 3 starts with bicep tendonitis. He got lit up against the Nationals during that span and managed to walk the opposing pitcher.

I think he definately has the stuff to be a 12-15 win pitcher, with about the same 4.20 ERA if not better. He attacks the zone, doesnt walk guys, and gets ground balls…. a winning combination for out team.

By: Joe Durbin

Joe Durbin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:37:01 +0000

I want to be sure to put this in the correct context. Chad is putting the effort forth with the comparison printouts. I do not know if the agent is or just has Chad forward the info to him.

By: Joe Durbin

Joe Durbin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:35:11 +0000

Another Dad chiming in. I have not been on the site in quite a while.
I was at Chad’s last night when his agent called and he is busting his butt putting together comparison sheets of other pitchers with similar years and what they are getting next year and presenting this in his defense to get what he is asking for.
Just from what I saw last night at Chad’s he deserves it alone.
I wander if others do this much homework too.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:34:33 +0000

Yeah, Howard is just entering the league but he’s not exactly young. The Phils kept him in the minors a bit longer than he should’ve been. I can imagine he’s looking to make up for lost time with a fat payday.

By: Chapps

Chapps — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:07:15 +0000

Ed, Howard isn’t exactly “young” and he got 10mil because his production doesn’t rely on run support(which Hamels doesn’t get) so when most big money hitters are hitting 30-35 homers a year and Ryan is hitting 40-50 that a big difference, when most big money pitchers are winning 18-20 games and Hamels is only winning14-15 that’s a big difference. If Cole can keep pitching like he has been and the guys start scoring runs for him he will get paid, baring an injury that is.

Beside Howard transcends the game of baseball or whatever that crap his dads been saying, and that is why he got 10mil.

By: Brooks

Brooks — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:57:14 +0000

Blanton is a decent pitcher, would you say he is the Phils #2 starter this year?
Decent money for a 1 year contract, if he shows even improvement from last year (can a win number really be attached? How about 15 wins or more – ) what money will he be looking for? I think 2 or 3 years would have been decent. If the Phils took the bullet on Eaton and Garcia, they can extend for a guy like Joe.
If Victorino continues to improve his output – there is every indication that will happen, what kind of numbers are we to expect? His 1 year deal seems wimpy to me but the Phils were able to make Shane happy and that is important.
I am not a fan of 1 year contracts. I think for both Victorino and Blanton 2-4 years would have been a nice fit. But, for Howard I would make the exception.
Is he a .313 hitter? A .251 hitter?
We have accepted the fact that he will strike out a ton of times. We will even swallow the fact that he will NOT hit the ball to the left side of the infield, no matter what kind of real estate is open over there…
We can always hope that his glove will improve (this is fully a mental thing as he reacts much better than when he thinks) –
We have also accepted the fact that he will hit between 40-50 hrs a year(maybe more?), lead the league or be close to the lead in RBI every year.
Keep the 1 year offer of 14 mil, add incentives. See what he will do. If he is a .251 hitter, then regardless of how valuable he is to the success of the Phillies, a less than mediocre batting average (Dave Kingman incarnate?) is not worth the $20 mil. Of course, if he goes to arbitration, could they possibly award him the 18 mil he is looking for, I hope not!
You know I am a Ryan Howard fan, I do not think the venerated trophy would be ours without the “Howitzer” and I think if we lock the big man for a couple of years, we will probably have more trophies to show for his being here.
Werth & Durbin are the 2 remaining deals to tie up. I would think Jayson would be a no brainer. Durbin should be easier as well.
Keep us posted Tim! We appreciate what you are doing.

By: Johan4Cy

Johan4Cy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:51:03 +0000

im with posi.

By: clktwr14

clktwr14 — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:41:11 +0000

Well, we have the Redneck Wrecking Crew back again Blanton and Myers, hopefully their big sticks come back too *LOL*

By: Dave S

Dave S — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:39:48 +0000

How about Adam Eaton making more than both of them? How fast with the Phils buy him out at the end of the season?

By: keep it posi

keep it posi — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:36:31 +0000

Blanton is a scrub.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:28:18 +0000

Howard is young and just starting in the league and he got 10 mil last year. I agree that Cole will get his pay day but he may not if heaven forbid something happens. I don’t think you pay someone today because of what they may make in the future.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:24:10 +0000

Ed, Cole is young and just entering the league. He’ll see a big payday in a few years if he stays healthy and productive.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:23:36 +0000

No issue. Joe deserves it. He’s been in the league longer than Cole, and though Cole will eventually make more than Blanton has already or ever will, it’s not that time yet.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:34:01 +0000

Does anyone else have an issue with Blanton now making a little over 1 mil more than our ace Hamels? I know King Cole gave up cash for years but still.