Thursday, February 01, 2007

Feb. 1 -- MORE MYERS

Ultimately, the Phillies' decision to give Brett Myers a three-year, $25.75 million contract extension is a shrewd, low-risk move. Had he gone to arbitration, Myers stood to make at least $5 million in 2007. That's what he'll make under this deal. Myers' salary increases to $8.5 million in 2008 and $12 million in 2009, and chances are, he may have gotten comparable raises in his final year of arbitration and his first year of free agency. Myers, 26, is a durable power pitcher with 20-win potential. He was fifth in the NL with 189 Ks last season, and he has pitched at least 176 innings in each of his four full seasons.

Don't forget: Gil Meche got a five-year, $55 million deal from Kansas City in free agency this year.

And Gil Meche stinks.

About Myers' off-field troubles last season and past struggles with his weight, Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told me tonight that he thinks Myers has matured. "He's a guy that we have faith in," Amaro said. "As he continues to mature and learn and learn the league more and understand exactly what he can do, I think he's going to continue to improve."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Now that he's rich, he can hire somebody to beat up his wife while he sits on his fat butt and eats chips.