Blanton signed, Victorino about to follow
Written by Mike Mariano   
Thursday, 21 January 2010 20:08

Joe Blanton just inked himself $24M over the next three years.  Big Fat Joe avoids arbitration this year to add on the next two years of free agency after.  I'm still upset with Joe for being the $8 million dollar reason that the Phillies couldn't retain Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, but we've been over that already.  Blanton was a solid piece in the World Series run and pitched great last season.  This contract is deserved for a good middle of the rotation guy and eats innings on a team that desperately needs it.

More importantly/excitingly(?)/significantly, Craig Calcaterra of NBC's Circling the Bases writes that a source reports a 3 year, $22M extension for Shane Victorino.  Shane avoids arbitration and gets a raise that acknowledges his strong play over the past few years.  Not only was he a great player, he made Mets fans absolutely crazy which is worth half that salary alone.  Carlos Ruiz will be the only arbitration guy remaining for the Phillies if this move indeed passes through.



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Comments (8)Add Comment
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written by will.H, January 22, 2010
what kills me is that joe couldnt get a start in the WS but he got signed to an extension. Sounds like Charlie and Ruben don't aren't on the same page. Or maybe they are and im just speculating. Charlies quote about Lee was pretty enlightening though.. sounds like he really wanted to keep him.

haha he said "thats how the yankees do it.." good half-snub as well as a fine point.
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written by will.H, January 22, 2010
don't/aren't, yeah im a goober.
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written by will.H, January 22, 2010
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/...-cubs.html

benny to answer your question from a few posts ago, take a look at the link. apparently the phils offered Lee a 3 year 60 mil extention and it was turned down. That's pretty consistant with what i thought in regards to the surprise cliff/roy trade. if we couldnt have lee for 20 mil a year, why not have halladay
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written by Benny B, January 23, 2010
Vicorino is a good signing as much as it kills me to say it. He earned it. Bla-eh-ton, not so much. He is lucky to get that type of deal in this market.

As far as the Lee vs. Halliday goes, 5-7 prospects is why not. Thats my singular point. Lee would have only cost cash. Was he asking for too much? I think so, but even if contract extension talks failed, Lee still was under contract for one more year. Having Lee and say Sheets/Bedard in your rotations I think would be a decent risk to take and be better net overall than just Halliday (even assuming a couple of trips to the dL).

Anyway, I'm just happy we solved all our problems with Gary Matthews Jr....ugh.
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written by EastFallowfield, January 23, 2010
Remember when the spring debates were over the team to beat? That’s been settled.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ao0CNOuj4pbg8J9usVhJi4sRvLYF?slug=ti-hsdmets012210
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written by philliephan2, January 23, 2010
Great post EFF - my favorite lines come at the end ...
"A team in their division went to the World Series and has gotten better. A team in their town won the World Series and has gotten better.

That leaves the once-proud Mets and their still-puffy payroll, the Mets and their public feud with the center fielder and best player, the Mets and a ballpark that doesn’t seem to fit what they’re doing.

That’s OK though. If this comeback doesn’t work, they’ll hold another one next year."

Doesn't get much simpler - or better than that for a philliephan :-)
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written by jerseybuc, February 02, 2010
"Remember when the spring debates were over the team to beat? That’s been settled."
The Great eFFing phillie fan has spoken.

Of course it was rollins who made the first foray into talking out of his ass after the mets had beaten the phillies by double digits in 06. So it is never settled oh pompous one.
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written by ForeverShea, February 16, 2010
I agree that victorino earned this contract extension, but look for him to be on the down and out as the contract comes close to expiring. The best news for him is that he'll continue to play in a small ballpark with some of the best hitters in the league hitting after him. I just don't see any upside above how he's played already. 3 years might have been a little long for me especially with some of the minor league talent that the phillies have waiting to go.

Well done to Joe Blanton's agent. $8 mil a season is almost what king felix is making. Wow. He's a tough number four for any team to face but I think they'll be ready and willing to move him after this year with or without another world series appearance as a team.

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