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Phillies, Francisco avoid arbitation with one-year deal

The Phillies have made a point of expressing good faith in Ben Francisco this off-season, and Saturday was no different. The two sides avoided arbitration by coming to an agreement on a one-year, $1.175 million deal, which also includes performance bonuses.

Ben Francisco and the Phillies have agreed to a one-year deal. (Don Wright/AP file photo)
Ben Francisco and the Phillies have agreed to a one-year deal. (Don Wright/AP file photo)Read more

The Phillies have made a point of expressing good faith in Ben Francisco this off-season, and Saturday was no different. The two sides avoided arbitration by coming to an agreement on a one-year, $1.175 million deal, which also includes performance bonuses.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has made no secret about his club's intentions (for now) in filling the void left by Jayson Werth in right field. Numerous times, he has said Francisco figures to be a key component.

"We are pleased to have come to terms with Benny," Amaro said in a statement. "Our goal in this process is to come to equitable deals. Benny, as we've stated, will have an opportunity to play more regularly in right field this year, and I am looking forward to the competition beginning this spring."

Francisco, 29, made $470,000 in 2010 while hitting .268 with a .768 on base percentage plus slugging percentage in 179 at-bats. In this, his first year of arbitration eligibility, Francisco received a raise of more than double his previous salary. He is represented by John Boggs, who is also Cole Hamels' agent.

Francisco will enter spring training as the favorite to earn a majority of the playing time in right field. He could win the job outright, or the Phillies could opt for a platoon involving some combination of Francisco, Domonic Brown, Ross Gload, and John Mayberry Jr.

With Francisco's signing, the Phillies have $162.38 million committed to 20 players on the 2011 payroll. Righthander Kyle Kendrick is the team's lone remaining arbitration-eligible player.

If the two sides cannot reach an agreement before Tuesday, salary figures will be formally exchanged, and negotiations can continue until Feb. 1. If an agreement isn't reached by then, an arbitrator will hear the case before deciding on a salary.