Skip to main content

Arbitration and WBC

The baseball world is buzzing this week with arbitration talk and World Baseball Classic roster announcements.

Firstly, Tuesday was the day when players and teams exchange dollar numbers for arbitration. Reportedly, Ryan Howard is asking for $18 million, while the Phillies offered $14 million. So, if the two sides reach an arbitration hearing again this year, Howard would, at least, get a 40% raise. Wouldn't we all like to be guaranteed a 40% pay increase this year?

While MVP-runner up Howard stayed headed toward arbitration, Ryan Madson, Joe Blanton and Shane Victorino have all come to terms with the Phillies on new contracts. Madson's deal is worth $12 million, with incentives, over 3 years. Shane's deal is for one year, and is for $3.125 million. Big Joe's contract is also a 1-year deal, worth $5.4 million.

The remaining Phillies still up for arbitration, aside from Howard, are Jayson Werth and Chad Durbin. Werth is said to have requested $4 million, while the team offered $3 million. Durbin's figures are said to be $1.95 requested by the player/$1.35 offered by the team.


The most pleasing WBC news is that JC Romero will pitch for Puerto Rico. Romero, suspended from MLB for the first 50 games of the season, is allowed to pitch in the World Baseball Classic, since he has not violated any rules for international baseball.

Other Phillies on WBC provisional rosters include...
Team USA- Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins
Team Canada- Matt Stairs
Team Italy- Mike Spidale
Team Venezuela- Carlos Carrasco
Team Dominican Republic- Ronny Paulino
Team Panama- Carlos Ruiz
Team Australia- Brad Harman, Joel Naughton
Also, Team USA will have Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt on its coaching staff.


Phormer Phillies popping up on rosters...
Italy- Sal Fasano, Little Nicky Punto, Mike Costanzo, Val Pascucci
Canada- Rheal Cormier
Mexico- Rod Barajas
Venezuela- Bob Abreu, Carlos Silva, Endy Chavez
Panama- Bruce Chen
Netherlands- Randall "The Sausage Beater" Simon
It's easy to say that I am getting quite excited for baseball in 2009. Ruben Jr. is doing his best to retain the right pieces of the championship puzzle, and is on the road to redeeming himself for letting Pat Burrell leave for a fraction of what he gave Raul Ibanez. And even though the DR team looks like it will mash all the competition, the WBC should provide some solid games and kick off the year properly, by stirring up interest in the sport.
**Update...Durbin and Werth have signed contracts. Ryan Howard is alone.

Comments

Jay Floyd said…
J-Dubya, AKA- Jayson Werth, has reportedly signed a 2 year dealio.

Durbin is next. Howard will lose at arbitration.
Jay Floyd said…
The Phillies confirmed today that unless you have at least a partial season ticket plan, you will not be eligible to purchase tickets for opening night.

Also, there will be restrictions for the Red Sox series in June. Right now they are planning to limit sales of Red Sox games to season ticket holders, but I imagine they will release them to smaller "6-pack" plans as the months go by, like they have done previously. The Independence Day weekend Mets series also appears to be restricted, at this time.

From an e-mail sent to season ticket holders today..."Please note that due to the overwhelming demand for the Home Opener against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, April 5 and Red Sox series the Phillies will not offer a public sale for these games."
GM-Carson said…
Shit man, I posted nearly the same thing today on WSBGM's. I hope you don't think I copied you.

How I'd spend Howard's millions- http://morehardball.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-i-would-do-with-18-million.html

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...