Blanton Agrees to 3-year Extension

Joe Blanton has agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract extension to avoid arbitration.

Blanton finished the 2009 season with a 12-8 record and a 4.05 ERA. He tossed 195 1/3 innings, giving up 195 hits over 31 starts. At one point during the ’09 season, Blanton put together a string of 11 straight quality starts.

His contract will pay him $7 million this season, $8.5 million in 2011, and $8.5 in 2012. Another $500 k can be made through innings incentives.

This seems reasonable for a pitcher of his ilk, getting him for what seems to be lower than market value to stay in Philly. They could have let him go after the season and gone after a cheaper substitution, however, Blanton has always been very consistent. You know what you get from him: 12-14 wins, 30 starts, and an ERA a shade above four.

For more, go to our new partner site, 973ESPN.com.

Pat Gallen

Pat joined Phillies Nation in July 2009, coming over from Examiner.com. As a previous employee of both Comcast SportsNet and the National Basketball Association, Pat prides himself on being a well-rounded individual when it comes to sports. However, the Phillies are first on the list. You’ll usually find Pat chiming in on the Phillies Nation Facebook or Twitter account, weekdays on 97.3 ESPN radio or hosting Phillies Nation TV. He’s also a Senior Writer for the site, and in his free time is a music enthusiast and Will Ferrell movie-follower. His favorite beer: Philly’s own Yards. In 2015, Pat moved on from Phillies Nation as a sports anchor and reporter for CBS-3 in Philadelphia.