On Joe Blanton
Matt Gelb still here while Andy enjoys some vacation...
On Joe Blanton
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Matt Gelb still here while Andy enjoys some vacation...
The headlining news from players and teams exchanging arbitration figures on Tuesday centered mostly around San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum. The two-time Cy Young award winner is seeking $13 million. The Giants are offering $8 million.
Lincecum is looking to surpass the record for highest salary ever awarded in arbitration -- $10 million.
And so is Joe Blanton.
Yes, that's right. Joe Blanton. He of the 12-8 record and a 4.05 ERA in 2009. He who is slotted as the Phillies' third starter. Not to say those numbers are anything to scoff at, but last time we checked, Blanton hasn't won a Cy Young. Or even appeared in an All-Star game.
Blanton is asking for $10.25 million. The Phillies are offering $7.5 million.
Some perspective: Cliff Lee will make $9 million in 2010 for Seattle. The Phillies will pay Roy Halladay $10 million in 2010. (Halladay's actual salary is $16 million but Toronto is paying $6 million of it this season.) Also facing arbitration, Detroit ace Justin Verlander is asking for $9.5 million. Verlander won 19 games last season and finished third in the American League Cy Young voting...
OK, you get the picture.
Blanton's request of $10.25 million is shocking, considering precedent. Here's why: There can't be any possible way that Blanton's people would expect to win a case should it go to arbitration.
In the last four years, only four pitchers have asked for more money than Blanton during the exchange of figures. They are: Lincecum (2010), Felix Hernandez (2010), Francisco Rodriguez (2008) and Carlos Zambrano (2007). Zambrano settled his case just before the scheduled hearing. Rodriguez lost his case, but was still awarded $10 million, which was what the Angels had offered. That tied the record for largest salary award in arbitration.
Of course, Rodriguez shares that record with Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard along with Alfonso Soriano*. All three were awarded $10 million. Howard won his case; Soriano lost his. Again, we're talking about top-flight players here. Blanton doesn't fit that bill.
*There is an interesting connection in all of this. Blanton's agent is Casey Close, who also represents Howard. Close helped Howard win that record $10 million in 2008. Is he looking to one-up that?
How the Phillies approach this will be interesting. The Phillies have taken a player to arbitration just three times since 1996 -- Howard (2008), Travis Lee (2001) and Willie Banks (1996) -- and the franchise has shown a willingness to avoid the hearing at all costs. But after seeing Blanton's demand, will the front office want to play hardball with the pitcher?
Typically, teams will settle around the midpoint of the exchanged figures before the case can go to arbitration. That would put Blanton's 2010 salary at $8.875 million. That would be a 63 percent raise from Blanton's 2009 salary of $5.454 million.
Does he deserve a 63 percent raise? Last season was probably Blanton's third best in the majors. He put up better numbers in 2005 and 2007. He also won 16 games in 2006.
Can the Phillies settle below the midpoint? Sure. The midpoint is just an unwritten guideline that most deals follow. But what if the Phillies let the case go to arbitration? The panel of three arbitrators must pick either of the two figures -- $10.25 million or $7.5 million. There is no in between. Either the player wins or the team wins.
In this instance, the Phillies would have to be fairly confident in their case.
In your dreams, Joe.— redshoes- Ok, so the Phils are offering Blanton $7.5 mill, but $9 mill was out of the question for Cliff Lee ???— jhjack
- jhjack, but they did not have money for both. Ånd no one wanted to trade for Blanton. If they could have traded Big Joe at the Winter Meetings, and apparently they tried, then we would have Halladay and Lee right now. But there is only so much $$$.— hop251
- Why did I hear that they agreed to a 3-year deal?— Gmilst1
- Well, the Phillies set their budget assuming they don't make the playoffs, even though they've been in the playoffs for the last several years and expect to be there for at least the immediate future. Their approach is shortsighted and,ironically, will increase their chance of missing the playoffs.— phillyguy36
- It's worth a shot right? Not happening and his people know it. They are just trying to get as high as they can. I think he is worth exactly what the Phillies are offering if not a little less.— sima_down_nah
- I like Joe, but come on dude....seriously, really? 10 million? how about put up 18-20 wins with an era under 3.00 and then come with that.— meaned
- In my opinion, to believe tht the Phils would win this arbitrtion is a big mistake. Randy Wolf signed for 10 mil with Milwaukee, Joel Piniero will get right around 10 as a free agent. As is usually the case, the free agent signings have set the bar. Salaries like Cliff Lee's at 9 mil are outdated. A lot of average free agents are having trouble commanding their prices, but not starting pitchers. And if the Phils point out a lack of post season presence, its easy for Blanton'e people to cite Charlie's simple decision not to use him. 18-20 wins and a sub 3 ERA, as meaned used as a bar is worth 15 mil, not the 10 implied.— KBland
- Well the price of cheesesteaks has been going up...
- KBland, you need to factor in service time and precedent. In arbitration hearings, free agents are not the relevant comparison. Prior arbitration awards are more relevant. Arbitration awards are not set by market rates. It is a formal process, and prior precedent matters. As a comparison, look at lincecum. He is likely worth much more than $13 mil on the free agent market (dominant strike out pitcher with 2 cy youngs probably fetches closer to $20 mil), but a higher amount would be too far above prior precedent of $10 mil to be a realistic target. It isn't fair, but it is teh system teh players and owners agreed to. Blanton likely asked for so much hoping to get a settlement near the midpoint as opposed to actually believeing he will get the win since the Phils have a history of avoiding hearings. Just my two cents...— PhillyGuyInDC
Let's see....the Giants offered 8 million for a 25 year-old 2-time Cy Young Award Winner, and the Fightins offer 7.5 million for a middle of the rotation guy who was AVERAGE in every sense of the word in 2009. He only won 12 games because he pitched behind the 2nd best offense in baseball. I love ya Joe, but keep dreaming that you are worth 10 million in Arbitration. I understand what some of you are saying about the market dictating his worth, but that is pretty inaccurate. Joe is not a free agent. Howard got 10 million in arbitration- does anybody else think he could have gotten 25 million as an FA that year? Let the Giants pay 8 million for Blanton, and the Phillies can have Lincecum instead...that sounds fair to me!— kjuggs77- sorry joe, you're not that good— notch44
- These players are the reason it cost 300 bucks to take a family of four to a game (ticket, parking, beverages and packed hoagies). Forget paying everybody, especially Lee. I'd rather have nine guys who care about Philly, volunteer in the community, make their million a year so I can afford to be entertained by them. I don't think the world series is worth $900 seats behind home plate. That's whats coming. Keep rooting for the owners to pay all these millionaires. At least the owners worked for their money, these guys play baseball! Grow up everybody. This guy asked for 10 million bucks for ONE YEAR! Its so stupid. We're the only one's that will pay. And your kid who won't ever read a book because you build these fools up..— BentLogic
- Joe. You nuts? They wouldn't give Lee 9.
- I dont see this ending well for anybody!— Murray11
