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Carlos Ruiz Signs

Originally posted Jan. 23 at 12:44 p.m.

According to a source close to Phillies Nation, the Phillies and catcher Carlos Ruiz have agreed on a contract. Ruiz, who turned 31 yesterday, enjoyed a breakout season in 2009, posting career highs in on-base percentage (.355), slugging percentage (.425) and OPS (.780).

Some advanced metrics also favor Ruiz defensively, as he is among the top 10 catchers in runs saved over the past three seasons. Had he and the Phils gone to arbitration, Ruiz was seeking $2.5 million, while the team offered $1.7 million. While it is currently unknown whether the deal is for one year or multiple years, it is widely believed that Ruiz was the one arbitration-eligible player most in need of a multi-year deal, given the lack of advanced catching prospects following the trading of Lou Marson and Travis d’Arnaud.

UPDATE, 3:15 pm: The Carlos Ruiz signing has become official according to a press release from the Phillies. It is indeed 3-years, $8.85 million, however, the yearly breakdown has not been announced. The fourth year of the deal is an option for $5 million with a $500K buyout.

Paul Boye

Paul joined Phillies Nation in January 2010 after moving over from his old blog, The Phrontiersman. What began as a desire to enter the world of sportscasting has gradually evolved into a passion for scouting baseball players; Paul will be working for Baseball Info Solutions during the 2010 season doing just that. He brings some views and opinions that are off the beaten path, yet has a great affinity for stats of all shapes and sizes. He is a firm believer that Chase Utley is The Man, Mike Schmidt is the greatest Phillie ever and Harry Kalas was the voice of God. You can catch his frequent stat and tidbit posting on Twitter.