Posted: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 4:25 PM | 52 comments |
 

With Moyer, it's not about the money
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To address one of the issues floating around the Moyersphere in the wake of his angry comments yesterday, yes, his contract is laden with incentives based on innings-pitched and appearanced. But no, the team was not likely in any way influenced by money when it decided to bump Moyer out of the rotation.
 
A baseball source confirmed to the Inquirer that Moyer’s contract, which is worth $13 million over two years, contains innings and appearance-based incentives. He would receive an additional $250,000 for his 150th inning this season, 160th ,170th, 180th, 190th.
 
His 2010 salary would increase by $250, 000 for 150 innings pitched this season, and 23 starts. He currently has 123.1 IP and 22 starts.
 
These bonus amounts are by no means miniscule, but they do not represent a sum large enough to influence a baseball decision for a team attempting to defend a World Series Championship. The Phillies signed Pedro Martinez to a contract worth about $1 million, for example, to replace Moyer in the rotation, and are paying released outfielder Geoff Jenkins $9 million dollars this season. If the team felt that Moyer was among its five best starters, they would certainly have kept him in the rotation. This was a decision based on performance, not dollars.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 4:25 PM  Permalink | 52 comments
52
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:42 PM, 08/12/2009
    Hey Andy, are the Phils an arm short in the pen tonite? They sent Kendrick down and I'm assuming Moyer isn't ready because he pitched Sunday. That means they have six in the pen and they all pitched last nite and then turn right around and play a day game tomorrow. Its gonna be tough.
    — celtic_13
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:57 PM, 08/12/2009
    Celtic_13 - good observation... moyer mania continues...
    — M60tanker
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:59 PM, 08/12/2009
    Rich Dubee ruined Brad Lidge. He is the worst pitching coach in baseball. Another blown save last night. Also Hamels and Moyer are a mess. Shake it up-hire Leo Mazzone, Rod Nichols, or Jamie Moyer as pitching coach...c'mon Cholly!
    — Dr. Michael
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:01 PM, 08/12/2009
    Andy, I think you are missing the point. I don't think anyone would seriously believe that the Phillies removing a pitcher with that ERA is about the money for them. The contract, however, provides substantial support for the notion that Moyer's angry reaction IS most likely about the money. Moyer took awhile to sign in the offseason, and agreed to this deal with a lower base salary and serious incentives because he thought as a starter he would get the incentives. While most everyone is operating under the assumption that Moyer is upset at being removed from the rotation based on some sense of personal pride (and thus some can forgive him for his reaction), his contract surely suggests he is upset because of the finances involved (which would be less forgivable to fans who feel he is already being compensated well with his base salary alone).
    — cnphilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:08 PM, 08/12/2009
    Oh yeah, the Phillies are going to be hurting because they don't have Kendrick in the pen for mop-up duty...come on. Moyer could pitch tonight out of the pen if needed. It's been 3 days since he started, he'd normally be throwing a bullpen session by now anyway. While donkey is obviously joking, anyone who seriously claims that the Phils replaced Moyer with Pedro in the rotation to save a couple of bucks needs to have their head checked. Moyer has the worst ERA of any starter in the NL. Besides, Pedro has incentives in his deal for starts too so if Moyer doesn't reach extra incentives then Pedro will. Cnphilly, I hear your argument but I'm not buying it. Moyer wasn't going to get any more money on the open market anyway so it's not like he turned down millions to sign here. I think Moyer's reaction is more about the fact that he realizes that this might be the end of the rope for his career and he didn't want to face that reality. Dr. Michelle, we heard you the first 1,000 times you cut and pasted that nonsense into a post...and I thought that looneywolf was a broken record, geez. You might want to take up a hobby since you apparently have WAY too much free time on your hands.
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:32 PM, 08/12/2009
    cnphilly, thanks for pointing out hwat I thought as well: Nobody thinks that the Phillies made this move "for the money". (This was "one of the issues floating around"? First I've read or heard about it.) You are correct that if it's about the money at all, it would be on Jamie's end. I'm not as convinced as you that money is the reason Jamie is upset, but I think it's silly to make an 'issue' of the Phillies making this move based on dollars.
    — bobby
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:33 PM, 08/12/2009
    We can still trade Moyer for some relief help before the end of this month. Just a thought...
    — HitsLikeAGurlBurrel
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:35 PM, 08/12/2009
    Tough to agree with you, cnphilly, but you definitely make a rational point. The only reason I'd say it isn't so much about the money is that I think the $13 million is guaranteed, and some of the incentives were probably out of reach anyway. So maybe over the next two years he could have reasonably expected to get an extra million to 1.25 mil with incentives. That's not much, relatively speaking. Plus, he could still get that one extra start in September with the double headers coming up and the 150 innings target could be within reach if he pulls a spot start or two and does some long relief. So what's he really losing? Maybe a few hundred thousand? Athletes are proud guys. But lets see how Pedro does before writing Moyers career obituary.
    — PhillyGuyInDC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:40 PM, 08/12/2009
    moyer was stop gap at best this year anyway,martinez brings more to the clubhouse as far as ability
    — soliteryman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:43 PM, 08/12/2009
    and how did Dubee ruin Lidge? Reading this explanation should be good....
    — jamarder
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:46 PM, 08/12/2009
    Lidge has no confidence right now and its Dubee's fault right? Give it a rest. I guess its Dubee's fault too that Hamels stinks and Happ is having a decent year right? Dr Michael- you need to buy a clue
    — jamarder
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:58 PM, 08/12/2009
    Posted by Dr. Michael 04:59 PM, 08/12/2009 you must have some "practice" -do you have Alzheimer's? You write the same "brilliant" (yes that IS dripping with sarcasm) comment after every article (hell - you even write it when the story is about The Eagles!!) Just because you keep spewing it out there- doesn't make it true. Save your energy - it seems you may need it to keep that helmet I know you must wear - buckled on tight.
    — mebphila
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:01 PM, 08/12/2009
    Dr Michael, i think that is the 10th time i have seen you post that on these message boards...
    — 93phils
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:03 PM, 08/12/2009
    Martinez had a 5.11 ERA in the minors. If he gets out of tonight's game with less than 7 runs charged to him, I'll be surprised. Let's hope that the bats come through tonight. And by the way, if we can send Jamie Moyer to the pen for an ERA over 5 as a starter, why is Brad Lidge riding the pine for being the only closer with an ERA over 7?
    — Raiderfan


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Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

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