Blanton's agent: Talks are progressing on multi-year deal
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Blanton's agent: Talks are progressing on multi-year deal
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Joe Blanton's lofty request for $10.25 million in arbitration could prove to be completely inconsequential.
Blanton's agent, Jeff Barry, said today he has had talks with the Phillies regarding a multi-year extension for Blanton. The right-handed pitcher is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2010 season.
"They're progressing and we'll see where it takes us," Barry said.
Barry said he was hopeful something can be worked out before the two sides before a potential arbitration hearing in February. When asked about Blanton's salary request of $10.25 million, which would set an arbitration record should Blanton win his case, Barry said it was designed to "seek the player's value."
The two sides discussed a possible extension even before salary figures were exchanged on Tuesday, Barry said. Other reports indicate the Phillies are seeking similar extensions for their two other arbitration-eligible players, outfielder Shane Victorino and catcher Carlos Ruiz. But unlike Blanton, both Victorino and Ruiz are under the Phillies' control through 2011. (Ruiz will not be a free agent until 2013.)
If the Phillies were to sign Blanton to a multi-year deal, the figures could resemble recent deals given out on the open market to similar pitchers like Jason Marquis (two years, $15 million) and Joel Pineiro (two years, $16 million). Or it could be more.
The Phillies countered Blanton's arbitration request with their own offer of $7.5 million. Blanton, 29, was 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA for the Phillies in 2009.
"Joe loves Philadelphia," Barry said. "His wife loves Philadelphia. They love the winning they've had there the last couple of years. There is definitely mutual interest on both sides. We'll see where it takes us."
It seems like a lot of money for a guy who's fastball barely breaks 90 mph.— lgeagles
Blanton is consistant, and goes deep into the game, average 7 or 8 innings.... The Phils should lock him up...— TheBlank
At least he can stay healthy, and is not a head case (see Hamels).— gho_matt- shoulda just signed Lee and did ARB with Blanton, then by the trade deadline - trade one of them and get something back. But what do I know...— Hollywood Junkie
- mrdip, folks will never get over lee because as much of a coup it was for amaro to acquire him at the trade deadline it was just as much of a blunder to trade him to seattle for peanuts and not explore alternatives which would accomodate lee and his salary requirements.. whatever they wind up extending blanton for could have been used towards a lee extention.. blanton is expendable because he is as inconsistent as the rest.. hell, amaro even knows he was expendable because he tried to move blanton for prospects before coming to the questionable conclusion that moving lee for prospects was his only way to deal with the matter of salary room and prospect acquisition. amaro had a guaranteed world series appearance this year if he held on to lee while acquiring halladay.. he is content to take his chances with a mostly inconsistent rotation and a relief corps depleted of all its major talent.— zwarte piet
- yep, it was the trading of gavin floyd for freddy stinking garcia that led to all this..floyd would be the cheaper middle of the rotation option right now... again, Joe, show you're serious and drop some poundage like Ryan howard did... just amazing that you can be making 7 to 9 million bucks for being slightly above average— jim715
- Cliff Lee makes $9 million. That alone proves him and Blanton and money have nothing to do with each other. Some people just love to whine.— bobbyd24
- Brob...I am not so sure you are right. The MLB arbitration deadline was the weekend of Dec 1st. The Phillies offered arbitration to Blanton that weekend. They did not have to, and could have made him a non tendered free agent. At the time, they were negotiating the Halladay trade with Toronto, and the Lee trade with Seattle. They chose to offer arbitration to Blanton, which committed the Phillies to a salary of 7.5 to 10 million dollars. Amaro could have chose to let Blanton walk, and use the money saved to pay for Cliff Lee for the year. This way, they could afford to have both Halladay and Lee on the roster at the same time. Then, they could have let Lee walk next year, and received two first round picks as compensation. I am not sure what the decision process was during arbitration weekend, and why Amaro decided to give Blanton arbitration, if payroll was an issue in retaining Lee. This is because no one in the media covered this point, nor asked Amaro this question at any of the post trade conferences and radio shows. Who would you rather have, Lee or Blanton? Did the prospects they received from Seattle that much more valuable than the two first round picks they would have received as free agent compensation? To the point of giving up the opportunity to have a "putting all your chips on the table" season where they would have been prohibitive World Series favorites. I have not seen nor read a compelling argument yet which justifies the Blanton tender, followed by the Lee salary dump, and the Halladay trade. And if you think the three prospects they received from Toronto significantly replenished the farm system to a greater degree than two first round draft picks, I have some great real estate I would be happy to sell you in West Philly.— arrowamy
- It's a done deal. 3 years, $24M— MarkNJ
- I say they give him 3 yr deal for 26 or 27 million...— storourke
- Look, in the end, this organization has been to two WS in a row, while winning one. I'll drink their Kool-aid.— davekrieg
- Blanton at least deserves more than the Phillies gave Adam Eaton.— daveb618
- brob1900.... thank you, finally someone on here who actually know's what's going on. I really think a lot— bobf876
- No wonder the Daily News is suffering - with readers like those individuals that commented on this story - there is no hope. Did any of you read the story? Blanton's "aim high" proposal of 10.5 million was to get the 7.5 million dollar from the Phils' front office. Now Blanton's agent has a number to negotiate a multi-year deal.— michael2_19030
- I can't believe people question this move.— CMc62480
