Phillies, Pence agree on deal
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Phillies, Pence agree on deal
Daily News staff
The Phillies don't like going to arbitration hearings, and they won't be going to one this year after finalizing at deal with Hunter Pence.
Pence, the Phillies' remaining arbitration-eligible player, agreed to a 1-year, $10.4 million contract that includes performance bonuses, the team announced.
The salary represents the midpoint between what each side submitted for a potential arbitration hearing. Pence submitted $11.8 million and the Phillies submitted $9 million.
Pence, acquired from Houston on July 29, earned $6.9 million last year after taking the Astros to an arbitration hearing and winning.
With Pence's signing, the Phillies have avoided hearings with Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick and Wilson Valdez, who was later traded to Cincinnati.
The Phillies have not been to a hearing since 2008, when Ryan Howard won $10 million. The Phillies had submitted $7 million. That was the only time that the Phillies lost in the eight hearings in team history.
Pence will remain under club control through 2013, so it is possible the sides could be at this point again next offseason unless they agree to a long-term extension.
"I love to be in Philly," Pence told WIP recently. "I absolutely enjoy every moment -- the organization, the fans, the city, a lot of things to be happy about for being there."
Pence, 28, hit .314 with 22 home runs and a career-high 97 RBI in 154 games between the Astros and Phillies last season.
Pence, a 2011 National League All-Star, led the Phillies in several offensive categories after his arrival, including batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.394), slugging percentage (.560), hits (67) and total bases (116).
Good job on both sides coming to a fair deal. RAJ has been one busy man the past 48 hours! Contrast that with the wheels in the mud gang who can't shoot straight next door who still don't know if Mr Castillo will be the defensive coordinator or not.........
Now, I would feel a lot better if we had a reliable third baseman in the works........the July trading deadline should be interesting if NY is again the train wreck we all think it will be and is looking to shed more salary.
The Ruben Amaro years have been marked by decisive moves some great (Cliff Lee-Part 1)...not so great (Cliff Lee-Part 2) and some so out of the blue glorious (Cliff Lee-Part 3) that if anything, he has made this team interesting and fun to watch, much like the Paul Owens years when you saw firsthand how the building blocks of a great team were made.......I can't wait for this season to start! Mr Amaro, I salute you, Sir! :)— DelawareRiverRat- Guess I'm going to have to take it on blind faith, but I think one year contracts to Pence and Cole Hamels are ridiculous. There's got to be something else in the works. These guys are going to be mainstays for years to come. I hope Ruben knows what he's doing.
— djlen - Nice...— Speedqueen Mistress
- Great deal, but sign him up long term.— fish1463
- Won't be long now.— John621
- Good news now to work on long term deals for Hunter and Cole!— srcdaddy1216
- Great...now just be healthy and hit, baby. What's the deal with his injuries, Murph? Please tell me he doesn't really have the Utley knee condition.— PhillySubsMac
- Good, now bat him cleanup until Howard comes back and then bat him 5th. I truely believe batting in third in front of Howard in Game 5 against the Cards hurt Howard, as it took away Howard's protection in the lineup. Charlie Manuel has zero clue and needs replaced.— 76er
- Room for Theriot???— Relocator
- This might edge them into the luxury tax. Not much this year, but rate increases if they are in next year too.— mikemaddog
- I love this. Great signing for a good dude who wants to be here. Long term certainly isn't out of the question. Let's play ball!!Go Phils!!!— athousandgods
- Current favorite Phillie right here. You can't replace this guy's passion or love for the game.— PhillyIllini
- It will be fun to watch Pence playing on a good team for an entire year. Amaro won't extend Pence this year, though. No need to.— eman
Great move.
Such a Philly guy - glad we got him last year. He seems to fit in well.
My only concern (maybe not my only) is LF.
And I might be only one sad to see Valdez go. What a great utility guy he was. Hope we got a good guy in return. Bench guys that can play 3+ positions and have great attitudes are not easy to find.
— Poppys
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