Stark: Moyer, Phillies Nearing Crossroads

Jayson Stark is reporting the talks between Jamie Moyer and the Phillies have taken a turn for the worse:

Moyer has re-enlisted his former agent, Jim Bronner, to begin calling other clubs to see how much interest they would have in the 46-year-old left-hander. Sources indicate that while there continues to be mutual interest in having Moyer remain a Phillie, the two sides continue to haggle purely over dollars.

Two years ago, Moyer took a below-market, two-year, $9.5 million deal to remain with the Phillies, with a low $3.5 million guarantee in the second year. But after leading the World Series champs in wins, he’s looking for a significant raise. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told ESPN.com the difficult negotiations have been “a little disappointing.”

So the Phillies don’t want to pay the 46-year-old Moyer too much to return. And I agree. He’s no sure thing. And while you can’t say Derek Lowe or Jon Garland or AJ Burnett is a sure thing, at 46 and a year removed from a 5.01 ERA, you can’t exactly sell yourself on Moyer for a good chunk of your offseason budget.