CSN Philly reports the Phillies have signed outfielder Jayson Werth to a multi-year deal. Jon Heyman reports it’s a 2Y/$10M deal. Werth will earn $3M in 2009 and $7M in 2010. The Phillies have avoided arbitration with Werth; only Chad Durbin and Ryan Howard remain.
Werth had asked the Phillies for $4M in arbitration, and the Phillies originally offered $3M.
Thoughts: That almost seems too much for Werth, especially that second year. Werth improved tremendously on his career numbers in 2008, but he remains an injury risk, and still can improve on hitting right-handed pitching. Still, I like that it’s a two-year deal, as the Phils have locked in through arbitration. Werth will, however, seek a big free agent deal if he performs well, and I don’t know if the Phils would want to give him that in 2011.
