On Park, Jenkins, Sheffield

A flurry of Phillies news today.
First, the team announced that righty Chan Ho Park has won the fifth starter’s job, besting lefty J.A. Happ. Both had good springs, but I suppose the move was made with designs of lessening the impact of sending Happ to the minors, should he require the seasoning.
That’s just speculation. Whatever [...]

Young catchers on the move?

SATURDAY: Sure enough, Paulino has been dealt for lefty reliever Jack Taschner. This all but assures J.A. Happ the fifth starter’s spot.
–
THURSDAY: Now Ken Rosenthal thinks that Chris Coste has secured the backup spot, and that Ronny Paulino is the one available after all.
Chris Coste has secured his hold on the Phillies’ backup catcher spot, [...]

Projecting your 2009 Phillies

2/18/09: Baseball Prospectus has just released its 2009 projections.
Jimmy Rollins – .293/.360/.458, 16 HR, 43.9 VORP
Shane Victorino – .291/.352/.430, 12 HR, 24.3 VORP
Chase Utley – .295/.377/.522, 28 HR, 55.9 VORP
Ryan Howard – .270/.374/.547, 40 HR, 40.5 VORP
Jayson Werth – .283/.380/.511, 22 HR, 32.8 VORP
Raul Ibanez – .276/.341/.450, 18 HR, 15.4 VORP (still listed w/Seattle)
Pedro Feliz [...]

Spring training is coming

Not just that; it’s almost here!
Just three days separate us from the return of the Phillies to the ball field, even if that field happens to be in Florida.
It’s safe to say that this offseason started out rather questionably, with the signing of Raul Ibanez to a three-year contract to replace Pat Burrell, who left [...]

Werth, Durbin sign; Howard lone ranger

Outfielder Jayson Werth and reliever Chad Durbin have both signed contracts, avoiding arbitration. Werth will get $10M over two years ($3M in ‘09, $7M in ‘10), while Durbin gets $1.635M for the 2009 season.
That leaves Ryan Howard as the only remaining arbitration-eligible Philly player without a deal, and it’s likely he will not get one [...]

And the news keeps coming in

Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton have signed one-year deals, avoiding arbitration hearings. Victorino will get $3M and change; Blanton will get $5M in change.
Ryan Howard is reportedly asking for $18M in arbitration, while the Phillies have come in at $4m, the greatest disparity between offers thus far (not to mention Howard’s demands being second only [...]

Hamels signs three-year deal

The Phillies have signed Cole Hamels to a three-year, $20.5M contract. Joel Sherman of the New York Post has details.
Hamels will receive $4.35 million in 2009, $6.65 million in 2010 and $9.5 million in 2011.
…
If Hamels wins the Cy Young, his salary in 2010 and/or 2011, his base salary would go up by $500,000 in [...]

Recent news in brief

I’m currently on vacation, but I figured I’d at least catch up with a couple tidbits.

PH specialist Greg Dobbs was signed to a two-year, $2.5M deal and avoids arbitration for the year. Very affordable.
The Phils signed two utility players, Marcus Giles and Pablo Ozuna. The deals are cheap, but with Eric Bruntlett and Jason Donald [...]

Burrell signs with Rays, Ibanez signing looks even worse

Just when we had all kind of forgotten that Ruben Amaro had, in fact, signed Raul Ibanez to a three-year deal, this news broke not too long ago:
Pat Burrell is leaving the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies for the runner-up Tampa Bay Rays.
Burrell has agreed in principle to a two-year, $16 million contract with the [...]

Arbitration report

UPDATE (1/2/09): Arbitration filing begins Monday and continue through the 15th. Hearings will begin on the first of February.
–
Here’s a shiny new post for all the arbitration case info as it happens. As of yet, no player has a case scheduled, but a few will be having hearings in the coming weeks.
Scott Mathieson was non-tendered [...]