The Phillies announced they have avoided salary arbitration with closer Brad Lidge and righthander Ryan Madson.
Lidge will make $6.35 million this season.
Madson will make $1.4 million.
Both pitchers have performance bonuses in their contracts.
Now that Lidge and Madson are signed, Ryan Howard and Eric Bruntlett are the only remaining Phillies eligible for salary arbitration. I don't expect the Phillies to come to an agreement with Howard before the parties exchange salary figures tomorrow with MLB. The Phillies certainly hope to avoid salary arbitration with Howard, who could make around $7 million next season.
The Phillies haven't been to arbitration with a player since Travis Lee in 2001.
Comments (15)
I just hope the Phils have some money in the coffers after paying all that money to Eric Bruntlett and hopefully Bruntlett will not break the bank.
Posted by John Gill | January 17, 2008 6:27 PM
Posted on January 17, 2008 18:27
I thought I read somewhere that we didn't have to worry about Howard's huge salary for about three years yet. What's going on here?
Posted by Andy | January 17, 2008 7:18 PM
Posted on January 17, 2008 19:18
With Eric Bruntlett in the fold, who needs A-Rod? I think we should consider giving Howard a percentage of all hot dog sales next year.
Posted by Tavian | January 17, 2008 8:52 PM
Posted on January 17, 2008 20:52
We don't have to worry about Howard leaving until after the '11 season. This is because of baseballs salary structure for young players. He is currently going through his first year of arbitration, which is his first chance to have any bargaining position at all. If he continues to produce at his current level for the next three seasons, his salary will steadily rise to that of the premium talent in MLB. However, in the grand scheme of things, 7 million for Howard is highway robbery and it is all thanks to the arbitration system. Consider yourself lucky, Andy.
Posted by Neduol Caz | January 17, 2008 9:31 PM
Posted on January 17, 2008 21:31
What year did arbitration start?
The Phils used to have an umblemished arbitration record...i.e. they could claim that they never lost an arbitration case.
Of course, they settled nearly all of them, and only very few went to arbitration, as evidenced by the last one being in 2001.
I don't hear that anymore. Did they finally lose one at some point in the past 10 years or so? If Travis Lee was the last in 2001, was it him? If so, was that the ONLY thing Travis Lee ever won?
Posted by Anonymous | January 17, 2008 10:03 PM
Posted on January 17, 2008 22:03
Ryan Howard is ours. Just get us 1 more starting pitcher. Eric B can run. Great! This is just me, but I kinda like our starting infield. Is there a better one in baseball?
Posted by Eman | January 17, 2008 11:00 PM
Posted on January 17, 2008 23:00
I like 3/4 of our starting infield. I'd rather have a bowling ball play third base than Wes Helms.
Posted by KMG | January 18, 2008 7:50 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 07:50
I agree that 3rd base is still a big problem. How many more years are we going to try to get by with journeymen slop at 3rd? Do we have any 3rd base prospects in the minors? Seems like whenever I look at who we've drafted over the past couple of seasons, there are never any 3rd basemen on the list.
Posted by DerrickH | January 18, 2008 8:53 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 08:53
They did draft a third baseman several years ago in Mike Costanzo, and I'm sure you know that he was included in the deal to Houston for Lidge. But I do agree, they certainly need an upgrade at third ASAP.
Posted by XXX | January 18, 2008 9:03 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 09:03
That's a tad expensive for Lidge though, is it not?
Posted by Thuglife | January 18, 2008 9:21 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 09:21
Another vote for needing help at 3rd! Dobbs isn't bad, but I do have some issues with Helms. I think the only reason Charlie is platooning them is 'cause they hit from different sides of the plate. And I guess we do need wome right-handed hitters.
I'm STILL mad that Mike Costanza went in the deal for Lidge! He has to be close to coming up to the *bigs*. He might have been the perfect answer for 3rd. Plus he's a local boy!
Posted by Anonymous | January 18, 2008 9:59 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 09:59
Sorry! Forgot to *sign* the above post. In case anyone wants to make a direct comment. LOL!
Posted by Norma | January 18, 2008 10:01 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 10:01
That's right. I had forgotten about Costanza. Am I the only one who has a sinking feeling about the Lidge deal? It reminds of the Wagner deal. Lidge will probably have a solid season and then the Phils will be too cheap to re-sign him.
Posted by DerrickH | January 18, 2008 10:12 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 10:12
3rd base is a big problem. I'm not so concerned with getting a whole lot of offense from third, considering that amount of offense that we get from Howard, Utley and Rollins. Which is why Pedro Feliz is perfect. He has a great glove and does have some power. He strikes out too much and doesn't walk, which I don't like, but the DEFENSE is what we need. 3rd base is a key defensive position and a good glove there makes your pitchers better. At CBP pitchers already are pitching a little scared because any ball hit in the air could leave the park. And with Helms/Dobbs at third they also have to pitch a little scared about a ball hit on the ground. Since we can't do anything to fix the homer problem, how about we help the pitchers by giving them the confidence to throw ground balls.
As for those people who lament the loss of Mike Costanzo, from what I understand he was a butcher defensively, and he had a ton of strike outs, of course with some good power. However, what that says to me, is that he wasn't going to be the answer at third.
Posted by Wes Chamberlain | January 18, 2008 10:22 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 10:22
Dobbs at 3rd isn't bad, but it certainly is not good. He has a weak arm! Ever notice how ball always seem to get there just in time on the most average of runners. And how a lot of his balls fall right down to Howards feet, I don't recall seeing many balls being thrown to his chest. He is a better hitter the Helms though. I hope that Wes can find what he had in Floriday and bring it here. He always seems unsure of what to do when there is a man on second base and a player running to first. Dobbs has made some poor decisions out there as well. I think we will miss Nuni this year!!
Posted by BB | January 18, 2008 10:31 AM
Posted on January 18, 2008 10:31