Condrey non-tendered

Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, and Carlos Ruiz were always certain to be tendered contracts, so the only question revolved around a pair of right-handed relievers: Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin. The Phillies ultimately decided to hang on to the latter, but Clay is now officially out of work. To quote Scott Lauber...

"The decision to cut ties with Condrey comes as a surprise, especially given Condrey’s $650,000 salary in 2009... Clearly, though, the Phillies believe they can better allocate the approximately $850,000 that they would’ve had to pay Condrey in 2010."

Meanwhile, the club decided that it's worth it to pay what will likely be in the neighborhood of $2 million to Durbin so he can walk 6.1 batters per 9 innings again next year (as he did in 2009). Have to admit I don't quite see the logic here.

Anyway, best of luck to Clay wherever he winds up.

about 2 years ago PhillyFriar 7 comments 0 recs |

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Shocked on Condrey, not Durbin. Condrey was great in the bullpen this year before he got hurt.

by Ant on Dec 13, 2009 2:50 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, he woulda made under 1 mil and be an productive arm out of the pen. I dont see the logic here either.

by philiafan14364 on Dec 13, 2009 9:05 AM EST up reply actions

If Durbin could just get his control down…

by philiafan14364 on Dec 13, 2009 9:07 AM EST reply actions

Bizarre move

If you’re trying to save money elsewhere, why spend $2m on a guy whose upside is a middle reliever and not a guy who’s been serviceable at less than half the price? The only way this makes any sense whatsoever is if they’re worried about Condrey’s injury long term, either that it will come back or that he’ll lose effectiveness.

On the flip side of this discussion, who of the non-tenders from other teams look interesting? Lauber mentioned Matt Capps and Chien-Ming Wang, though I’m inclined to disagree with him on Wang.

by Aphilfan on Dec 13, 2009 10:47 AM EST reply actions

Thats what I was thinking. It is kind of difficult to come up with some scenario where Condrey is not worth risking 800,000 on.

by Whack8888 on Dec 13, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Matt Capps.... do we want Lidge to battle with him for "best" ERA

by Ant on Dec 13, 2009 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

ARRRGH!!!!

Given a straight-up choice between Condrey and Durbin, I take Condrey. He’s never going to be a guy you trust to get out great hitters in big spots, but in parts of four seasons with the Phils he’s posted ERA+ marks of 149, 91, 134, and 141. He gives up less than 1 HR per 9 innings, and right around 3 walks per 9. He made $650k last year and missed time with injury, so it was unlikely he’d cost more than $1 million in 2010 no matter what.

Then there’s Durbin, who’s had one season in his decade in and out of the majors with an ERA+ better than league-average: his flukish 2008 with the Phils. Even in that year he walked too many guys, and last season he went nuts with the walks: more than 6 per 9. He made a million more dollars than Condrey in 2009 and likely will pull down $2.5m next season… to do what? Basically the job that Condrey had, something barely more elevated than a mop-up role.

It’s not a franchise-crippling mistake by any stretch, but it does represent a frustrating misallocation of resources and a missed opportunity to save a million bucks or so in a moment when the team is looking to add Roy Halladay but also seems hell-bent on keeping the payroll around $140 million.

by dajafi on Dec 14, 2009 2:07 PM EST reply actions