BY SCOTT LAUBERAnd then there were eight.
This just in from the Phillies: utility infielder Eric Bruntlett and reliever Clay Condrey, two of the Phils' 10 arbitration-eligible players, have agreed to contracts for 2009. Financial terms were undisclosed, but you can bet both will receive modest raises. Bruntlett (.217, 2 HR, 15 RBI) made $600,000 in 2008, while Condrey (3-4, 3.26 ERA, 56 appearances) made $420,000.
So, that leaves Ryan Madson, Jayson Werth, Joe Blanton, Chad Durbin, Ryan Howard, Greg Dobbs, Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino as the Phils' remaining arbitration-eligible players. As expected, all were tendered contracts for 2009. Barring any agreements beforehand, their agents will exchange 2009 salary figures with the Phillies next month. Then, the sides will have a few weeks to negotiate a contract before going to arbitration hearings in February. (Phillies new assistant GM Scott Proefrock is going to have a busy January.)
Based on some conversations that I had at the winter meetings, Werth is a possible candidate for a multiyear contract. The Phillies would like to reach a multiyear deal with Madson, but his agent, Scott Boras, usually advises his clients to pursue free agency. Werth and Madson can be free agents after the '09 season. Howard and Hamels are the Phillies' most high-profile arbitration-eligible players. It'll be interesting to see whether the Phils can reach long-term agreements with them, although I wouldn't hold my breath. Keep in mind, too, that Howard can't become a free agent until after the 2011 season. Hamels won't be eligible to file for free agency until after 2012. So, there's really no rush.
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The deadline to tender contracts to unsigned players came and went at midnight. Right-hander Scott Mathieson was non-tendered, then re-signed to a minor-league contract, according to an announcement released by the Phillies. Basically, that only means that Mathieson will make less than the minimum major-league salary while he recovers from his second Tommy John elbow surgery.
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Don't expect an official announcement on Raul Ibanez until early next week.
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Pat Gillick was crowned "2008 King of Baseball" Thursday night at a banquet in Vegas. The award is presented annually from Minor League Baseball to a long-standing pro baseball executive for his/her dedication and service to the game.
1 comment:
Bruntlett (.217, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
If i was that big a failure,I guess I should expect a raise too. In this stupid business model called baseball, if he had hit .275 he probably would have doubled his salary.
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