Burrell Close to Rays
Well, at least Pat Burrell already knows the Tampa/Clearwater area.
Burrell Close to Rays
Todd Zolecki
Well, at least Pat Burrell already knows the Tampa/Clearwater area.
Burrell is close to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. His career in Philadelphia ended when the Phillies signed Raul Ibanez last month. Burrell reportedly will be Tampa Bay's DH, which should be interesting because Burrell hasn't fared well as a DH. In 85 at-bats in 22 career games as a DH, Burrell has hit .153 with just one homer and seven RBIs.
Burrell made $14 million last season with the Phillies, which was one reason why the Phillies didn't offer him salary arbitration. They figured if they offered Burrell salary arbitration that he would accept because he would have received a raise, possibly making $16 million next season on a one-year contract. The Phillies simply preferred to go in a different direction, so they declined to offer Burrell arbitration and didn't pursue him as a free agent. They believe they're a better team with Ibanez than Burrell.
Of course, time will tell.
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There's going to be a lot of talk in upcoming weeks about salary arbitration and potential long term contracts for Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels. Keep in mind that Howard can't become a free agent until after the 2011 season and Hamels can't become a free agent until after the 2012 season, so the Phillies don't feel any immediate pressure to get anything done. Instead, I think you'll see the Phillies try to sign players like Jayson Werth and Ryan Madson to contract extensions because they can become free agents sooner. Now, if the Phillies and Howard/Hamels talked about a deal that made sense, I think the Phillies would move on it. But if Howard is looking for A-Rod money, they're not just going to give it to him, either.
Pat: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. But really... do we need more than one .250 hitter on this team.... I mean, there is no way to tell if Howard has any intention of giving us a full season... he killed the Phils in the first three months... AS for Pattie, he'll do well in Tampa... He goes to a good team, but his AL numbers are scary bad. So let's just say "good luck" and "thanks again."— RJ Marrella- Both Pat Burrell and Raul Ibanez have the bat and experience to play left field. But the Phillies dumped some salary by going to Ibanez. It's a dollar driven world we live in. I don't follow NickEeee's logic. He said: "Good luck Pat! I hope that you hit a 9th inning double to win World Series for the Rays and beat the stinken Mets!!!" That could happen only if the Mets beat the Phillies to appear in the World Series. I guess he sees the post-season going up to the new CitiField.— Betweenthelines
- Both Pat Burrell and Raul Ibanez have the bat and experience to play left field. But the Phillies dumped some salary by going to Ibanez. It's a dollar driven world we live in. I don't follow NickEeee's logic. He said: "Good luck Pat! I hope that you hit a 9th inning double to win World Series for the Rays and beat the stinken Mets!!!" That could happen only if the Mets beat the Phillies to appear in the World Series. I guess he sees the post-season going up to the new CitiField.— Betweenthelines
- How ironic... I was surprised he got that much...— PhillyIam
- I heard (maybe on espn.com?) that the Phillies had offered $22 million for 2 years to Burrell sometime during the season. I guess he was convinced someone else was going to give him 3. Why else would he turn down such big numbers?— betsy72
- I hate you, Amaro.— maude
- Whatever. At that money he can worry about ME.I could care less about him.— YIPO
Comment removed.- At least Pat won't hear that many loud boos when he fails to run out a Faux Home Run and ends up caught between first a second.— stoky
- Comment removed.
- LOL at the Greg Jeffries comment, just ridiculous. Ibanez bashers do you want walks behind Chase and Howard or a guy who hits 290 and 300+ with runners on base? And please stop with the lefty #s as an arguement, Ibanez career average vs lefties is still 11 points higher then Pats entire Career average, think about that one for a second. Also Burrell was offered a good bit more by the Phils then what he signed for with the Rays so Amaro is not at fault, the market/econonmy caught up to Pat and the other 1A free agents.— philsfan in the atx
- Ibanez in the Bank, Watch the numbers fly!— city slicker
- what I don't get, is they could have signed Burrell for 2 at even 20 million, and saved the other 11 million to get Derek Lowe, instead of a 36-year old who will be 40 during the last year of his contract, and will break down QUICK. I just don't get it. I mean, I know they just won the World Series, but I'm thinking they are reverting backwards here.— seaonasdad
- So Ibanez slows down at age 39 and hits....275 with 20 HR and 90 RBI..wow thatll really kill us eh. I think each player is different and Ibanez #s have not decreased AT ALL the past 4 seasons..when we signed Jenkins last year that was first red flag i saw were his #s going the wrong direction the past 3 seasons..Plus a good arguement is Ibanez body hasnt taken the abuse of an everday big leaguer until age of 30 when he started to play everyday. Not to be a jerk Eisenreich but i cant resist.."paying twice as much for a player" that would be 16 M per year we are paying Ibanez 10 just have an extra year..your off by a mile my friend.— philsfan in the atx
- Go away Pat. Enjoy your contract. I don't hate you at all - just go away please. Thank you.— jearnha
