Phillies sign Blanton to 3-year extension
The Phillies just announced the team has reached a three-year extension with pitcher Joe Blanton worth $24 million. Blanton, who was set to be a free agent after the 2010 season, had requested $10.25 million in salary arbitration.
Phillies sign Blanton to 3-year extension
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Phillies just announced the team has reached a three-year extension with pitcher Joe Blanton worth $24 million. Blanton, who was set to be a free agent after the 2010 season, had requested $10.25 million in salary arbitration.
This agreement means all four of the Phillies' top starting pitchers are locked up through the 2012 season.
Earlier today, Blanton's agent talked about his client's desire to stay in Philadelphia.
The Phillies have scheduled a 5 p.m. news conference. More to come.
Comments (56)
Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!— Snoddy- This is a good move, the mistake was moyer at $ 8 million which, in part, cost us Lee...— dreinterests
- Blanton is alright with me he is a solid pitcher and can go deep into games. He needs to find a better barber though— amann08
- I'm alright with the Lee deal as long as Roy Halladay makes a basket catch and a behind the back stab during a world series game, wearing a Phils uniform of course. That was classic.— Danno
- hey JimG, Phils still could have kept Lee for one more year. Who cares after that? New stadium and coming off a WS loss. You just need three pitchers to win a series. Typical bad Philly thinking.— LA Mike
- Joey Bulldog at $8M per, especially for only 3 years w/ the contract ending at age 33, is a good deal. I hope that Doc rubs off on him and Cole and the two of them improve as a result of being around Doc, maybe not to the extent that Carpenter in StL did, but any improvement from those two would only strengthen our staff. Now, how do we get Moyer to retire so we can use that $8M of his on the bullpen?— The Reddgie
Comment removed.- Danno - Get over it loser, its time to move on.. Why three years for Blanton? If you look at the market, everyone is getting 2 year deals.— gallen024
- JimG is right on. This isn't fantasy baseball, people. If the Phillies could have kept Halladay and Lee, they would have done it. I love Cliff Lee, and it's still tough to see him leaving, as I'm sure it is for the team. But we would have had 1 year of Lee, period, and would have needed to move Blanton or Happ to make all the numbers work. And before you say the Phils are cheap, as they have historically been, you can't honestly say this team has let $ be an obstacle when pursuing what they want in recent years. Whether we think it's fair or not, the reality is there are budget limitations for every team outside the Bronx, and there is a need to balance the urge to go for broke now with an eye towards maintaining a long-term winner. (Ah, the revisionist history that would show up on these boards if they went 70-92 from 2012-16?) While I wonder how all of these developments will pan out, this current regime has earned some trust.— EaglesWest
- Can't get over Lee...Would have taken a one year rental for another shot at the World Series. This team's window is coming to end in 2 to 3 years anyway. Another 3 years of Heavy B will be sweet...— fins
- Definitely a good move. Balnton led the team in innings pitched last year. He's a bargain at that price. The bullpen was the bigger problem last year. I think Mathieson will help but give the guy a month to settle in before beginning the yelping. It's a shame they can't turn Bedard into a reliever.— JayW
- Great deal by the Phils. Lee wasn't staying for $8 Million/year, and it wa sbest to move him now. It would have been great to get him for one more year at $9mm, but it was not meant to be. This is a great deal in the long run and allows the Phils to compete through 2012, barring injury. Let's hope for some surprise arms from the minors now to fill out the rotation and bullpen!— dgabs
- I thought we only had Hamels through 2011...Im pretty sure im right— Rattyb
- JimG Lee will sign for 15-20mm next year. I would have gotten rid of Blanton's 8mm and Moyers 8mm next year and signed Lee. We are now stuck with a medocre pitcher for 3 years and NO Lee. We over paid. No way is Blanton worth 8mm...no way!— mainstreet
- I will NOT get over the Cliff Lee debacle. It was an insanely stupid move. For Lee to have a chance at 25 million a year starting in 2011 he has to have a career year in 2010, and he will...for Seattle. Blanton is a nice pitcher but is overpaid in this contract. Watch the Marlins Phils fans, they do it right and will win the NL EAST this season. Laugh all you want now, but this prediction will come true.
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The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
Inquirer Staff Writer
Bob Brookover
Inquirer Baseball Columnist
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