Phillies Nation

agreed with Brian. what to do with Eaton. ugh. what a terrible signing.

also with Howard, will the guy ever sign a long term deal anywhere? it saddens me to see him outgrowing the phillies organization with each arbitration year. I believe the only possiblity will be to trade him at some point unless we can get a deal in place. while people who really follow and analyze the sport will understand, the fair weather and ‘less’ devoted fans will think the Phillies org have lost their damn minds.

Will a trade happen this year, god forbid the phils dont look like they wont make a run into the post season?

lots of questions, so few answers.

also, Utley was in NYC over the weekend and spotted by my friend at a hotel bar. supposedly wreaked of marijuana. im sure that is part of the rehab :)

Well if he’s hitting the bowl, I’d like some of what he’s smokin because he’s always on the ball. Adam Eaton will be pitching for the Royals or Rangers or some bottom-feeder, but we will have to eat his salary no-doubt. I’m very happy that the majority of our pitching staff is not pitching the WBC, as much as I love our country, I love the Phils more. Hamels, Myers, Lidge, way to get ready for Spring. Howard should be there though, I think it benefits the hitters personally, has anyone looked at the dominican’s roster or at Venzuela’s pitching staff? Wow is all I can say!

you love the Phillies more than your country.. or more than your country’s baseball team for the World Baseball Classic???

The Phils avoided arbitration with Shane Victorino and signed him to a one year deal. Hopefully they can get a long term deal done before the start of the season with him and Werth.

http://csnphilly.com/pages/landing_homepage/?Phillies-Avoid-Arbitration-with-Shane-Vi=1&blockID=36569&feedID=717

I’d go with the latter Don. Let me be somewhat diplomatic on a special day like today

its not three years because hes too busy right now. they bough themselves some time to sign shane to an extension duyring ST or during the season. i expect a 3-4 year deal for werth soon…i also expect theyll do blanton after that, then theyll trade ryan howard, because i dont think ruben even will deal with this circus again..

Don M….MLB Baseball does not test for ganja, hence why many MLB players smoke, but of course its kept on the hush!!

Geoff.. please… no trade talks about Howard. IF he gets traded.. I swear to God I’ll say you know everything.. but until that time, stop with that, please..

According to 610, the Phillies have avoided arbitration with Shane Victorino, and signed him to a 1-year, $3 million deal.

I’m not sure how I feel about trading Howard. Sometimes I’m all for it, sometimes I’m not. I’d trade him if we could land another ace, but that is wishful thinking.

Blanton is not in the free agent class of 2010.

Hey RealMuts Fan if you’re going by the Mayan Calendar then the baseball season will still be played. The world isn’t supposed to end until 12-21-2012 if you believe the Mayan theory.

You’re right, Don M, hence why I said wishful thinking.

he has one more year of arb after this

Im not going to speculate about trade details for howard ok…but going through arb again with this guy and having the hearing again is a mess and a huge distraction this team doesnt need…im sick of this guys lack of respect for the system and the game. hes a great power numbers guy but enough already, like you said, no player is worth that much money…except maybe cole hamels…

Victorino signs a one year deal to avoid arbitration

If we are to speculate on a future deal for Howard which will only come if the Phils aren’t going to make a run the year of dealing him there are 3 possible outcomes.
1) A Matt Holliday type package of 2 or 3 promising young but not established major-leaguers possibly combined with an out of favour guy 2) a group of minor leaguer prospects including at least one legit bluechip or 3) An A-Rod for Soriano like deal where one guy wanting out gets moved for another.

Not for nothing,I’m tired of all the contract talks,the crap snowstorms we in NY have been getting,and on top of that no football for NY and Philly.Also my Islanders suck monkey ass this year (Yes I’m a glutton for punishment) I have 3 words…..LETS PLAY BALL!

on the ben sheets topic… i think we could get him for 2/15 with incentives for future yrs (thats rite… yrs) and monetary incentives as well… as far as howard goes… his production is unmatched by any player in baseball… if he gets his avg up this season… i say offer him 5-6 yrs 100-130 MM… as for eaton… i think we release him or we trade him for shit eating up about half his salary at the same time

Also, kind of funny. No one seems to be too upset about the fact of Howard leaving, even though he is an amazing talent.

Pat, you make a good point because it’s not like we have any corner infield prospects who could take his place. But honestly, I’d be more upset if Howard didn’t ask for an 80% raise. I’m sorry but that’s just absurd, given that he’s regressed in hitting.

I will be upset when Howard does finally leaves via FA. However, he is the one playing hardball with negotiations. The Phils don’t usually succumb to such blackmail, so they will probably go to arbitration every year with Rhyno…Regarding the possibility of adding Sheets to the roatation, my question relates to the draft pick compensation the Brewers would get from the Phils. The Phils’ #1 pick is already going to Seattle for signing Ibanez. Sheets is also a Type-A FA. The Phils finished with one of the 15 best records in ’08, so the Phils would also be due to give the Brewers a #1 draft pick. Would we give up our #1 pick in next year’s draft? I would think that the Brewers would want some compensation sooner than that. Will someone with actual knowledge here respond. Thanks.

If the Phillies are serious about moving Howard in the next year or so, then signing Sheets shouldnt matter, provided the Phillies get a very god haul in return.

Obviously if they do trade Howard, they will get a few of the other teams best prospects, which I assume would include a first round pick in there somewhere. So maybe we lose it signing Sheets, but should Howard be traded, we will undoubtedly gain one or more back in terms of prospects. Just an idea.

Pretty true Matt. Well, lets put it this way. As long as we dont get a Bud Smith, Omar Daal or Travis Lee back. That was also a different time when they traded Schilling and Rolen and got junk back. I feel like they are a bit more prepared these days now that Gillick has spread the knowledge of what being a GM is all about.

What teams would actually go after Howard? If Oakland was serious about a run, they always seem to have a ton of propects available. Boston may need a DH if Ortiz proves he’s not the same after the wrist surgery. Tampa? Not that they would pay him.

Pat, even with Gillick, they got nothing in return for Abreu(even for a salary dump they should have done a lot better in that trade) or Thome in terms of prospects, so it wasn’t all just Ed Wade.