Phillies Nation

37 Responses to “Phillies Agree To 1-Year Deal With Joe Blanton”

1. T Marty Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:45 pm

   Don M. that seems like a whole lotta moohla to me too. While an every day stud like Vic gets 2 mil less.

2. Tim Malcolm Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:48 pm

   Whoa there. Blanton is in his second arb-eligible season. He already made $3.7M in 2008. He deserves the raise. Consider Vic’s raise is something along the lines of 600 percent, while Blanton’s is merely around 80 percent.

3. dan Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:50 pm

   Tim, with all the signings and arbitration news in the past few days, might you do an update on where the Phillies stand right now, like who’s signed, how much they’re making, who’s left, and how much they’re projected to make?

4. Tim Malcolm Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:51 pm

   Haha read my mind. When I get settled at home I’ll draw up a post. Currently Howard, Durbin and Werth remain.

5. Manny Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

   That’s a big raise for Joe the Blanton, but still a decent deal. I think he’s getting this money because he’s being playing the game for a while now… he is no rookie now.

6. cm Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

   Werth is asking $4 million, Phillies want to give him $3 million. Durbin wants $1.95 mil, but the Phillies want $1.35 mil.

7. T Marty Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:56 pm

   well Tim, when you break it down to percentages you got a point. Heck, for what he did in Game 4 of the WS, he deserves it. i wish i could take this to my boss, and tell him i’d be fine with just a 50% raise.

8. justin Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

   where did u hear that

9. Tyler Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

   give durbin the money and lock up werth for 4/14… hell take it

10. cm Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090120&content_id=3751608&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi

    second to last paragraph

11. Tim Malcolm Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    I’ll get to Werth and Durbin later, but I feel the Phils can come to terms with both. The disparity isn’t that large.

12. IRONPIGPEN Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    Blanton was very important acquisition for Phillies. Pitching was in disarray in mid-summer (Myers sent down, Eaton to follow, Kendrick would be benched). Blanton’s arrival offered stabilization. To be a champion, one must pay players like a champion…

13. Grrrumpy Miner Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    Phils with Victorino and Blanton getting signed are very very busy today.With Hamels and Blanton in the fold,Moyer and Myers in the mix thats a sold staff.Could this also mean Sheets is out of the picture?

14. PhillyGirlin Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    I heard that Werth & Durbin should be close. Good to see Blanton get a decent raise.

    btw – SI is reporting that Durbin had the 3rd best ERA in the majors for relief pitchers throwing over 80 innings..why not just give him the $1.9 for a year? Why get ultra cheap now? Doesn’t seem like that much considering the raises everyone else is getting and Eyre got 2Mil.

    I’m not even going to talk about Howard as I’ve never been big a fan of his. I know, I shouldn’t say that as he’s really helped the team on occasion….but….whatever..

15. Tyler Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    miner… no i dont think so because they always had that rotation secured once moyer was signed… so i do definitely think sheets is still a possibility

16. Grrrumpy Miner Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    lol I just noticed…you guys finally fixed the time on this site.Kinda got confused when I do posts at 7:PM and was listed as 9:PM.

17. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    I don’t usually watch all this off-season stuff, but is there some type of importance of having all the cases settled by today? Can’t they still come to an agreement before Feb or is today the last day to negotiate? I’m reading different things on this.

    As for Sheets..I definately hope he’s still a possiblity. Wasn’t Jr stating pitching is everything??

18. Ed Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    Does anyone else have an issue with Blanton now making a little over 1 mil more than our ace Hamels? I know King Cole gave up cash for years but still.

19. Malcolm Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    No issue. Joe deserves it. He’s been in the league longer than Cole, and though Cole will eventually make more than Blanton has already or ever will, it’s not that time yet.

20. Evan Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    Ed, Cole is young and just entering the league. He’ll see a big payday in a few years if he stays healthy and productive.

21. Ed Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    Howard is young and just starting in the league and he got 10 mil last year. I agree that Cole will get his pay day but he may not if heaven forbid something happens. I don’t think you pay someone today because of what they may make in the future.

22. keep it posi Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    Blanton is a scrub.

23. Dave S Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    How about Adam Eaton making more than both of them? How fast with the Phils buy him out at the end of the season?

24. clktwr14 Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    Well, we have the Redneck Wrecking Crew back again Blanton and Myers, hopefully their big sticks come back too *LOL*

25. Johan4Cy Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 9:51 pm

    im with posi.

26. Brooks Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    Blanton is a decent pitcher, would you say he is the Phils #2 starter this year?
    Decent money for a 1 year contract, if he shows even improvement from last year (can a win number really be attached? How about 15 wins or more – ) what money will he be looking for? I think 2 or 3 years would have been decent. If the Phils took the bullet on Eaton and Garcia, they can extend for a guy like Joe.
    If Victorino continues to improve his output – there is every indication that will happen, what kind of numbers are we to expect? His 1 year deal seems wimpy to me but the Phils were able to make Shane happy and that is important.
    I am not a fan of 1 year contracts. I think for both Victorino and Blanton 2-4 years would have been a nice fit. But, for Howard I would make the exception.
    Is he a .313 hitter? A .251 hitter?
    We have accepted the fact that he will strike out a ton of times. We will even swallow the fact that he will NOT hit the ball to the left side of the infield, no matter what kind of real estate is open over there…
    We can always hope that his glove will improve (this is fully a mental thing as he reacts much better than when he thinks) –
    We have also accepted the fact that he will hit between 40-50 hrs a year(maybe more?), lead the league or be close to the lead in RBI every year.
    Keep the 1 year offer of 14 mil, add incentives. See what he will do. If he is a .251 hitter, then regardless of how valuable he is to the success of the Phillies, a less than mediocre batting average (Dave Kingman incarnate?) is not worth the $20 mil. Of course, if he goes to arbitration, could they possibly award him the 18 mil he is looking for, I hope not!
    You know I am a Ryan Howard fan, I do not think the venerated trophy would be ours without the “Howitzer” and I think if we lock the big man for a couple of years, we will probably have more trophies to show for his being here.
    Werth & Durbin are the 2 remaining deals to tie up. I would think Jayson would be a no brainer. Durbin should be easier as well.
    Keep us posted Tim! We appreciate what you are doing.

27. Chapps Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Ed, Howard isn’t exactly “young” and he got 10mil because his production doesn’t rely on run support(which Hamels doesn’t get) so when most big money hitters are hitting 30-35 homers a year and Ryan is hitting 40-50 that a big difference, when most big money pitchers are winning 18-20 games and Hamels is only winning14-15 that’s a big difference. If Cole can keep pitching like he has been and the guys start scoring runs for him he will get paid, baring an injury that is.

    Beside Howard transcends the game of baseball or whatever that crap his dads been saying, and that is why he got 10mil.

28. Evan Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    Yeah, Howard is just entering the league but he’s not exactly young. The Phils kept him in the minors a bit longer than he should’ve been. I can imagine he’s looking to make up for lost time with a fat payday.

29. Joe Durbin Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    Another Dad chiming in. I have not been on the site in quite a while.
    I was at Chad’s last night when his agent called and he is busting his butt putting together comparison sheets of other pitchers with similar years and what they are getting next year and presenting this in his defense to get what he is asking for.
    Just from what I saw last night at Chad’s he deserves it alone.
    I wander if others do this much homework too.

30. Joe Durbin Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    I want to be sure to put this in the correct context. Chad is putting the effort forth with the comparison printouts. I do not know if the agent is or just has Chad forward the info to him.

31. Andrew R. Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 10:44 pm

    Hey, lets lay off Blanton. He was one of the reasons we got to– and won the World Series. He is a decnt #4. I think we can all agree that he did not come over and blow us away but he did go 4-0, with a 4.20 ERA. Imagine if Eaton could give us a 4.20 ERA. And let us not forget that Blanton pitched 3 starts with bicep tendonitis. He got lit up against the Nationals during that span and managed to walk the opposing pitcher.

    I think he definately has the stuff to be a 12-15 win pitcher, with about the same 4.20 ERA if not better. He attacks the zone, doesnt walk guys, and gets ground balls…. a winning combination for out team.

32. Andrew R. Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 10:44 pm

    1 more thing. I think Blanton is similar to Jon Lieber, and he ripped off 18 wins for us, so I wouldnt be surprised to see that from Blanton.

33. Mike B. Says:
    January 20th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    I don’t think it’s a bad contract…and I believe Werth and Durbin can work it out…but I’m just bringing up this: if Werth and Durbin receive their asking price, then our payroll, as it stands, is $126 M. I got my numbers from the site below and filled in the salaries during this period for the people not on that list. My numbers are probably not entirely accurate, but they’re close. And we’re at $126 M IF Ryan Howard somehow ends up with $14 M instead of $18 M, which I find unlikely.

    Since our payroll is going to be about $130 M, with buyouts of Gordon and Taguchi, will the Phils be slapped with a luxury tax? I worry about this, because I’ve no idea how our shadowy ownership group would react – would they cut spending? With that being said, just a little less than $15 M of it can be attributed to Geoff Jenkins and Adam Eaton. Damn them. If not for them, we’d have spending money.

    http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/philadelphia-phillies_18.html

34. Jamie Says:
    January 21st, 2009 at 9:26 am

    Joe, who is his agent nowadays? Seems to me Chad wants to come back and be on the ball club for years to come, no?

35. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:
    January 21st, 2009 at 10:43 am

    Joe – sounds like Chad needs a new agent who actually works. Hope its resolved soon. IMHO, it does appear the Philly offer is a bit low given what he did the last 2 years. Seems he’s been doing better & better since joining the Detroit org a few years ago.

    Mike B – funny how no one really talks much about Jenkins anymore.. Is he still on the team? (scm)

36. Manny Says:
    January 21st, 2009 at 11:32 am

    I’m slightly optimistic about Blanton… but very worried about the umps calling the games for Jamie Moyer.
    —
    Based on what Chad Durbin did last season (2.88 ERA anyone?), he definitely deserves a considerable raise. But I haven’t seen much consistency in the years before ‘08. Maybe both sides could agree somewhere in the middle (I’m thinking 1.7M) for one year.
    —
    I think Jenkins will have a shot this season. He is a very good player who could get some good ABs. His numbers weren’t great but somehow he helped us win a good amount of nailbiters last season. Great attitude, too. But I think the fact that he’s a lefty in this team just kills him.

37. From Section 113 Says:
    January 21st, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    The Phills will be below the luxury tax this year. I believe ESPN reported the luxury tax for ‘09 was $162 Million.

    Still just because the max is that high doesn’t mean we can spend that much.

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