Phillies offer contracts to Francisco, Kendrick

Last year, the Phillies entered the offseason with five arbitration-eligible players. This year, the number is just two, and neither figures to provide much in the way of drama.

Yesterday, the club offered contracts to both players - outfielder Ben Francisco and righthander Kyle Kendrick - in advance of a midnight deadline to do so. The Phillies could have elected against tendering one or both of them contracts, but doing so would have made them free agents, and both are expected to contribute to the team next season.

Francisco could see his playing time increase if Jayson Werth ends up signing elsewhere. Francisco has just 301 plate appearances since joining the Phillies in the Cliff Lee trade in July 2009. But he has posted decent numbers when called upon, hitting .272 with a .323 on-base percentage, .794 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), 11 home runs and nine stolen bases. He also hit lefties very well last season, posting a .901 OPS with six home runs in 96 plate appearances.

Francisco earned $470,000 last season. Judging by past arbitration cases, he should be in line to make between $1 million and $1.5 million.

Kendrick is expected to enter spring training as the favorite for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but he should see some competition from rookie righthander Vance Worley. The Phillies have also left open the possibility of signing a low-cost free-agent starter to compete for the job.

Kendrick started 31 games last season, going 11-10 with a 4.73 ERA while averaging 4.2 strikeouts and 2.4 walks per nine innings. He earned $480,000 last season and should be in line to receive between $2 million and $2.5 million based on past arbitration cases.

The next step in the process is for both sides - club and player - to file a salary number (the filing period is Jan. 5-15). On Jan. 18, those numbers would be exchanged, and if the two sides cannot come to an agreement, the case will go before a panel of arbiters at some point between Feb. 1-21. The two sides can agree on a contract at any point before then.