On Joe Blanton
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On Joe Blanton
Matt Gelb
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.
Take Halladay out of the perspective. What the Phils pay him is not relevant. The whole salary is relevant.— P Even- It had nothing to do with giving Lee 9 million this year, do you guys really follow your team or just run your mouth? It had to do with not being able to afford signing Lee to a long term deal. If they would have kept Lee for 1 season at 9 million, getting Halladay would have required emptying the farm system. They traded Lee, restocked the farm system and got Halladay. It was a great job by Amaro.— bobf876
- I still don't understand why the Phils didn't just non-tender Blanton and keep Lee for one more season. So what if no other team wanted to take Blanton in a trade? Considering what he thinks he's worth, who can blame them? I'd sure as hell rather have Cliff Lee in 2010 for $9M than Blanton for $7.5M.— paolibulldog
- Phillyguy, I understand the service time aspect. You raise good points. Blanton might be a bit high, but I think his figure is closer to reality than the Phils. About the only thing the Giants can argue against Lincecum is service time. 2 Cy's offset a lot of that, and I think he showed compromise by not going into the 15-16 range. Blanton may well result in a compromise, but I don't see them signing him to more than 2 years.— KBland
- If Oliver Perez can make 10 million a year, anyone can.— mcginnir
- And we couldnt keep Lee??? If Blanton wins, this will be the legacy of Ruben Amaro.— gluteman
- jhjack, one has nothing to do with the other. Once again, the Phillies tried to trade Blanton so they could hold on to both Halladay and Lee, but nobody would bite. This right here is the reason why nobody would trade for Blanton. Nobody wants to pay a middle of the rotation starter that kind of money. People need to move on from the whole Cliff Lee thing. It's over. He's gone. Stop complaining already!!!! ...and Joe's dreaming if he thinks he's going to win this arb case.— Billy The Kid
- KBland, the system doesn't work that way. Tenure will be considered as much as the numbers. Wolf and Piniero's contracts will not be the comparison the arbitrator looks at. They've been in the league much longer and they got (or in Piniero's case - will have gotten) their contracts on the open market. Maybe Joe could get that next year when he's a free agent if he has another solid year, but as far as arbitration is concerned, he's got ZERO chance of winning this case. Like the post above says, Justin Verlander, is only seeking $9.5M and he's clearly a more talented pitcher.— Billy The Kid
- You people that are still bringing up Lee just don't get it. Personally, I wish they would have kept him and think they could have. But the reality is, they decided they were going to dump a certain amount of salary. It appeared they TRIED to dump Blanton, but had no takers at his price. Whereas teams WANTED Lee for $9M (plus the prospects - and whether you think that's a big deal or not, the organization does). Just like YOU would want Lee for $9M but not Blanton! This is not the NFL, you can't just cut somebody and not pay them.— JesseH
- mcginnir, Oliver Perez got his money as a free agent. Different story. Next year, Omar Minaya can overpay as much as he wants for Joe Blanton...if Omar is still employed.— Billy The Kid
- I'm surprised the Phil's offer was as high as $7.5 for Blanton. I seriously doubt he'll get the $10.25 in arbitration. They should have offered $6.5 which would have been a raise over his '09 salary. In all likelihood, he'll walk in 2011 and go try the arbitration route again. That $1.5 mil savings might have been enough to keep Lee.— 1republican
- BentLogic, you're kidding right? The OWNERS - worked for the money? How? The owners are the owners because they're letting the money they already had, invest in a team ( of guys who play baseball ) who earns them the money. Seats are expensive, not because of the players salaries but because of the overall cost of operating a large stadium. That said, my partial season ticket plan cost me less than $400. Chump change for 17 games.— lentonc
Comment removed.- I think Joe may read the writing on the wall and agree to a settlement that keeps him pitching on a post-season contender. Money is great, but Joe seems like the kind of guy who might rethink the situation and decide he wants to win another ring for something less than $10.25 million. Like the rest of you, I like Joe a lot. This has smarmy agent written all over it.— Scorekeeper
- BammBamm, Joe is playing for the Phils no matter what. He isn't really in the great negotiating position you say he is. He can't just walk out and go to someone else. And if yo upremise is correct, why not submit a figure of $20 million? or $100 million? The reason is because it is ridiculous. Just like $10.25 million is ridiculous. What he is doing is not establishing a starting point for negotiations. What he is doing is throwing in the towel because the Phillies will win this case easily if it gets to a hearing. The Phils are in the driver's seat because Joe can't go anywhere else and his number is way too high while theirs is sane.— Scorekeeper
