Phillies Nation

Hmmmmmmm. Very interesting. I disagree that Shane will make 6m this year. He is eligible for arb next year also so I don’t think that a panel would jack him up to 6m knowing that they might see him again next year. I see Blanton signing a one year for 6.75m. Does anyone think that Ryan Howard would sign an extension to stay with the Phils for 5y/100m? I would like to see the Phils try that. I think Howard might do it for a few reasons: 1) He’s got this year and next year before his contract runs out and extending him another 5 would give security for life; 2) He can stay in Philly (if he wants to); 3) he could remain part of a championship caliber team. From the Phils end, if they can sign him to that, it would be team friendly. It would give the team a degree of cost certainty for a long time. AND, it would leave a little more money to sign Werth to a deal to keep him here for another three years. Anyone think that if the Phillies offered to rip Jason’s contract up and sign him to 4y/45m, he would take it?

The Dipsy

Brandon Duckworth!!!!!!!!!!!

If any of these arbitration eligible players is signed to a multiyear contract, it would most likely be Ruiz. He’s still cheap, but more arbitration years could push his pay up significantly. Decent catchers don’t grow on trees, and the Phils have traded away all options that were close to major league ready.

Blanton is already creeping up into the unaffordable range and could be replaced in 2011. Victorino will probably go year to year because of other prospects in the system coupled with the uncertainty of re-signing Werth. Durbin is middle relief, so anything might happen there.

Nick:
I think you are undervaluing Howard. While I wouldn’t sign him for five years after his current contract runs out, I’d consider extending him at least until he’s 35. That would mean tearing up the current contract and giving him 5 years.

You say he has “old player skills,” yet in 2009 he improved his defense dramatically, stole bases, and generally seemed to be improving; not something that people with “old skills” usually manage. He’s also had very few injuries.

If when he’s 35 he is only three-quarters as productive a hitter, he’ll still be getting about 100 RBIs.

I have been saying that for weeks I think Ryan would sign a 5 yr 100 million contract, if he wants to stay in Philly. Also I like signing Ruiz to a 3 or four year deal for 7-9 million just to show some respect, he will be worth it, and it has good faith written all over it. It is what good franchises do to players they like. And agreeing with George, Howard worked hard AFTER winning a ring to improve his defense and he lost some weight, I think Howard will be able to very productive through his 30′s. Remember the guy came up late, so he doesn’t have the games wear and tear other 30 year old guys have. If you could lock up Shane for 3 years at 4-7 million would be a good deal also, and I think would still leave room for Wreth if he will give the Phillies a discount to about 13-14 million a year

Good points concerning Ruiz, although I still think it would be a good move to sign him long to avoid arbitration. It would prove the team’s faith in him. It would assure the pitching staff that they weren’t throwing to a catcher distracted by future contract considerations. Sometimes it’s not money, but perceptions.

Paul Boye, are you saying he would not take 20 million or the Phillies would not have two players making 20 million on this team?

If Ryan Howard was a free agent today, I think he could get a 6y/160m-ish contract. “Old guy skills”? I don’t know what that means. Shag – I don’t think the Phils will be interested in signing Victorino long term beacuse I think they would rather keep Werth. Amanda – Whats up with this whole “Duckworth” obsession? I think Shane would get about 11 or 12 a year on the open market. 3y/27m for the Phils.

The Dipsy

I get it, but was going with the assumption that he would give the Phillies a discount for 20 a year for the next 5 years, Then he could walk over to the AL and get 10-15 to DH until he is 40

If $20 million is “money spent better elsewhere,” why is the front office already paying Howard $19 million? Maybe that’s not the same, but it’s so darned close it’s the difference between the thickness of a board and the thickness of a board with pee on it.

NO MATTER WHOM THE PHILLIES TRADE OR KEEP THEY WILL BE THE 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONS OF MASEBALL. I HAVE BEEN A PHILLIES FAN FOR 50 YEARS.

LOL Duckworth!

I never thought i’d see him again with the Phillies in ANY kind of capacity!

Durbin’s post season, until that last game of the WS was excellent. After one of the wins against the Rox he told an interviewer that he attributed his success to the improvements made to his curveball with the help of Myers. One of the scouting criticisms of Durbin was an effective outpitch. Maybe this new and improved curve will be that pitch or perhaps it can, in setting up one of his other pitches, make said other pitch more effective and therefore a more viable out pitch. I think he’ll have a decent year but let him prove it before make any offers.

Ruiz should double his salary from last year! That doesn’t seem fair. Chooch plays the most demanding position on the team and still will not make a million dollars. I’ll never understand the business side of baseball.
GO PHILS!!!

Remember Chuck, that 4/45 for Werth starts this year, where he is making 7m.

George – While of course we would not get what we could in the middle of 2010 in 11, I think we’d still get a lot. Hitters get more in deadline deals than pitchers, so I think. Plus, perhaps Howard will have an extension in place with that team as part of the deal. Either we, we would get good players back I think.

The Dipsy

Thats right Chuck. And he gets a little more cash this year which adds value to the deal. I don’t really wanna sign the gut to a 5 year deal taking him to age 36 or 37.

The Dipsy

Paul,

I trust what I see, not some nerds math equation! Yes baseball is stats drivin, but it is a sport with a lot of Human elements to it. He is one of the best fielders in the league period!

Howard was signed to a 3-year deal in 2009!!! What’s the rush to extend him right now? You gotta wait till 2010 is over at least. He’ll be here for 2 more seasons… and stuff happens, things change in 2 years, whether for good or for bad.

Also, I don’t expect Big Joe to get a big raise in arbitration… this one is gonna be an interesting case between the two sides. I’m curious to see what are the actual figures they put on the table. Joe’s numbers as a whole aren’t really that amazing to justify a substantial raise.

By the time Ryan gets to the end of his deal he will have made mega money already in his career. One would think that an already ultra rich player might think about giving his home team a discount at age 32. I mean, at that point, whats is really the difference for the player between 20m and 23m a year. I know, I know…..3m.

The Dipsy

“Do you really think Ryan Howard is going to leave between $38 and $61 million dollars on the table?…just to play for the Phillies??”

Roy Halladay did. :)

Here’s the difference with that, though…Ryan Howard has a ring…and a lot more success as far as the team winning…

It’s not to say that he doesn’t still want to win…

But Roy Halladay…great as he is…wants a ring…he wants to play for a team that has a legitimate shot at going to the World Series… he’s really never been on a contending team..

So he’s more willing to walk away from a lot of extra money in order to get that shot..

I don’t know…I mean I don’t know where Ryan’s head is…maybe he DOES give big discount to stay here..

I just think that it’s more the EXCEPTION and not the norm…that guys give those kind of “home-town discounts”…

Three or four teams would give him a huge contract. I think an extension makes a lotta sense. NOBODY will give him a six year contract at age 32, though. Nobody. If I were the Fightins, I would offer him an extension of 3y/65m and see how he feels about it.

The Dipsy