Eight to Arbitrate

by dajafi on Dec 13, 2008 3:17 PM EST

The Phillies beat last night's non-tender deadline by re-signing utility infielder Eric Bruntlett and long reliever Clay Condrey to one-year deals, Todd Zolecki reports. The only Phil to be non-tendered was rehabbing minor-leaguer Scott Mathieson, who will stay with the team after signing a split contract. The team will retain its other eight arbitration-eligible players: Joe Blanton, Greg Dobbs, Chad Durbin, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.

The fact that basically a third of the roster is arb-eligible, including franchise cornerstones Hamels and Howard and key contributors Blanton, Madson, Victorino and Werth, seems to undergird many of the decisions the Phils have made thus far in the off-season. Listening to Charlie Manuel, concern over the possibility of going to arbitration with veterans Jamie Moyer and Pat Burrell as well as the eight players not eligible for free agency evidently drove the decision not to offer arb to the two veterans. The team will consider long-term deals with at least Hamels, Howard, Madson and Werth, and maybe Victorino as well. To say the least, I haven't been thrilled with the off-season thus far... but if they manage to sign two or three of those five to reasonable multi-year contracts, it's possible the questionable moves of December will bear fruit.

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Lauber adds

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.

link here

by dajafi on Dec 13, 2008 3:49 PM EST reply actions

A multi-year deal with Werth would help me forgive them for Ibanez. I think Werth is STILL undervalued, despite his performance over the last two seasons. He was possibly the second most valuable position player on the team last year, but given his only recent success and injury concerns, he won’t be paid that way. It’s a shame, though, that Victorino has such a great reputation in CF, as the numbers (and my eyes) show that Werth is much better out there and we’d get more value putting him there over the life of his contract.

by bugbear on Dec 13, 2008 4:00 PM EST reply actions

The numbers say that Werth is a better fielding CF?

by taco pal on Dec 13, 2008 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

both FRAA/Rate and UZR say Werth is a better CF, albeit in a relatively small sample. Werth seems to have terrific baseball instincts in general—great base runner, knows when to steal, sees tons of pitches—and from my own observations, it seems like that extends to his fielding, whereas Vic mostly takes advantage of his speed to catch up to balls while taking worse routes.

by bugbear on Dec 13, 2008 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

Hasn’t the concern with Werth in general always been a health issue? I mean he has the goods but couldn’t seem to stay healthy. If you feel he isn’t going to get hurt much and is more likely to have health seasons like the 08 season than other seasons, extending him might be a good idea…but his history in general makes it a risk don’t it?

by jemagee on Dec 13, 2008 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

Most of his injury problems seem to have stemmed from his really bad wrist injury that was misdiagnosed and reinjured early in his career. I don’t really think he’s an injury risk at all. At least he poses the same risk as most players. Not more than normal I don’t think.

by smitty99 on Dec 13, 2008 4:56 PM EST up reply actions