Phils exercise Carlos Ruiz's option
As expected, All-Star catcher Carlos Ruiz will return in 2013 as the Phils exercised the $5 million club option in his contract.
Phils exercise Carlos Ruiz's option
Ryan Lawrence
With the conclusion of the 2012 baseball season Sunday night, major league teams will officially begin crossing off items on their offseason to-do lists.
The Phillies' first move of the winter was hardly surprising. On Monday, according to a baseball source, the Phils exercised the club option in Carlos Ruiz's contract.
The 33-year-old Ruiz will earn $5 million in 2013. Ruiz signed a three-year, $8.85 million contract prior to the 2010 season; the deal included a club option for a fourth year.
Bringing back Ruiz, of course, is a no-brainer. In a season where almost everything that could go wrong did for the Phillies, Ruiz was the team MVP with career highs in hitting (.325), OPS (.935), home runs (16) and RBI (68) in 114 games.
The Phillies haven't officially announced the move yet. They could be working on a new multi-year deal for Ruiz this winter.
Ruiz was a first-time All-Star in 2012.
Comments (14)
This move is a "no brainer". However, be careful of that so called "multi-year" extension. Ruiz is 33 going on 34. Not sure you want a 35-36 year old catcher signed through 2015 with such promising young catching prospects waiting in the wings (Joseph/Valle/Rupp). If a multi-year deal is signed, probably a sign that a trade including one of the young back stops is in the works.— drhoffman- Agree @drhoffman - @5M this is a guy who is still a bargain. That bargain likely will be over if a long-termer is signed.
What puzzles here an frustrates is the 'plan'. What is it? Not that I would expect MontCo & The Subordinates to tell me or any other fan here what the plan is since they have to compete in the market for talent, and keep some of their own, but like the rest of the phan-base the use of Ruf as a DH, and Galvis' intended use, and all the rest of the State of the State of these Phils joins the enigma that is all things Eagles.
The New York Times runs a great column today about the Giants and the plan that got them a second WS ring which ironically is the Phils plan of last year - strong pitching, 'contact' hitting, and defense. Sabean used that plan after their debacle of 2011 post their 2010 WS win. Having won only 86 games, and losing Posey, they doubled down on non-star contact hitters and more pitching even though they lost Wilson. Adding Pence despite his minimal production was a gift and a bit of a spark. So we might forgive the falloff of 2012 from the 102 win season yet that is where the parallels stop.
Trouble here is large contracts which MontCo & The Subordinates don't seem to be willing to eat. And in the case of Ruiz, they may be in for more.
#Stay Tuned. #Hot Stove burns Phillies?
— 24sDad 
One of those young catchers will be moved in a trade for a 3rd baseman.- good luck replacing Howard..... he is untradable at 25 mil a year and signed for a while— pr0f3ss0r
- Keeping Ruiz is good. Keeping Howard is good. Howard nearly led team in RBIs in less than half a season. Utley is, and should be, border line gone. Howard should be able to heal. Utley is degenerating in front of everyone's eyes.— charladan
- 2013 is Utley's last here. In 2014, either Galvis or Hernandez will be starting at 2B. I think they will take a look at trading one of their catching prospects (with some other pieces) for a 3B, but the question is who? Can they get Castellanos or Olt? I'm a little weary of getting Headley due to his salary requirements and might cost more in terms of prospects as well. As for catcher, 2013 will be Ruiz with Kratz as a backup, but what happens in 2014? I think Joseph is the catcher of the future, but is he 2 years out, 3 years? I would like to see them sign Ruiz to a 2 year deal instead of the one year option (so 2013-2014) and have Joseph as the backup in 2014 with the intentions of becoming the full time starter in 2015. If they think Joseph won't be ready until 2015, then sign Ruiz to a 3 year deal (2013-2015) with the intentions of having Joseph start in 2015 with Ruiz as the backup. Plans can always change, but I'd like to see Joseph (or whichever prospect) learn from Ruiz for a year or two before starting full time. Kratz is not the long term answer at catcher.— sjuhawk416
- @Highwayman: Agreed, and I would like to think that it's a package deal for Chase Headley. Toss in signing FA Upton and the Phils have a much different looking lineup and a well-bolstered defense--and bench. Let the bullpen take care of itself with all of those young arms.— Seegs
- The Howard haters are predictable --- a story about Ruiz and they throw out their factless hate. Howard is a HR and RBI machine (with strikeouts to match). I'm looking forward to a solid year in 2013 for Howard - say .260/40HR/130RBI. If Ruff can play left and take the 5 hole slot, Howard's numbers could be even stronger.— Chicago_Phils_Fan
- If you watched the playoffs and the Series, you realize once again that lights-out pitching...starters and relievers... along with defense trumps all else.— dasher
- Charladan. You evidently never watch the Phillies play since your comments on Utley's condition is a bit over the top. The mystique surrounding Howard is at best a case of puppy love. To move him would take money as well as a player or players. You value him far more than any of the other teams do. Frankly Utley is a better player than Howard. He doesn't hit as many home runs, however he doesn't kill as many bugs while swinging at bad pitches either.— phineas
- Charladan. You evidently never watch the Phillies play since your comments on Utley's condition is a bit over the top. The mystique surrounding Howard is at best a case of puppy love. To move him would take money as well as a player or players. You value him far more than any of the other teams do. Frankly Utley is a better player than Howard. He doesn't hit as many home runs, however he doesn't kill as many bugs while swinging at bad pitches either.— phineas
- "Ruiz is the team MVP" eh?
Ruiz: .325 BA; 16 HR; 68 RBI; 56 Rs; 4 SBs
Rollins:— eman - "Ruiz is the team MVP" eh?Ruiz: .325 BA; 16 HR; 68 RBI; 56 Rs; 4 SBsRollins: (HTML deleted)— eman
- "The Team MVP?"
Ruiz: .354, 16 HR, 64 RBI, 56 runs, 4 steals
Much-derided Rollins: .250, 23 HR, 68 RBI, 102 runs, 30 steals
Hamels: 17 wins, 3.05 ERA, 215 IP, 216 Ks
Papelong: 38 saves, 2.44 ERA, 70 IP, 92 Ks
My order would be: 1. Hamels; 2. Rollins (led team in every offensive category other than BA); 3. Papelbon; 4. Ruiz.
— eman
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