Phillies, Pence agree on deal
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Phillies, Pence agree on deal
Daily News staff
The Phillies don't like going to arbitration hearings, and they won't be going to one this year after finalizing at deal with Hunter Pence.
Pence, the Phillies' remaining arbitration-eligible player, agreed to a 1-year, $10.4 million contract that includes performance bonuses, the team announced.
The salary represents the midpoint between what each side submitted for a potential arbitration hearing. Pence submitted $11.8 million and the Phillies submitted $9 million.
Pence, acquired from Houston on July 29, earned $6.9 million last year after taking the Astros to an arbitration hearing and winning.
With Pence's signing, the Phillies have avoided hearings with Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick and Wilson Valdez, who was later traded to Cincinnati.
The Phillies have not been to a hearing since 2008, when Ryan Howard won $10 million. The Phillies had submitted $7 million. That was the only time that the Phillies lost in the eight hearings in team history.
Pence will remain under club control through 2013, so it is possible the sides could be at this point again next offseason unless they agree to a long-term extension.
"I love to be in Philly," Pence told WIP recently. "I absolutely enjoy every moment -- the organization, the fans, the city, a lot of things to be happy about for being there."
Pence, 28, hit .314 with 22 home runs and a career-high 97 RBI in 154 games between the Astros and Phillies last season.
Pence, a 2011 National League All-Star, led the Phillies in several offensive categories after his arrival, including batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.394), slugging percentage (.560), hits (67) and total bases (116).
Amen! Get both Pence and Hamels signed up long term. Never mind all the philosophical explanations, just get them locked up.— richw38- Great - let's go eat.— davesju93
- Need to tie down Cole and Pemce. Can not count on health of older core players for a full year. I believe Hamels is 17 plus remainder of playing time— Kcsplash
- Great negotiation, let's go eat!!!— Dr. Thompson
- Hope the performance bonuses include getting hits in the Playoffs because last season he looked like a deer in the headlights against the Cardinals.— Bermar
- @Bermar...pretty ignorant comment. The kid plays like his hair is on fire and he's got untapped power which he'll exhibit in a full season this year with the Phillies....His eye high Tomahawk swings aside, how can you criticize this guy?...Look for serious numbers here.— bearsfriend
- Actually, bear, it's not ignorant at all. HP didn't do much in the playoffs. 4/19 at the plate.
I do like the kid, like the way he plays, but I have the same concerns I had before the Phillies traded for him. Strikes out too much--a team trait it seems. He has modest power, and I don't see that improving by a whole lot. Not sure what you mean by serious numbers, but I think you and some others are trying to pack too much on him. Nice player, but not the next high output power hitter!— BEMiller - This comment has been deleted. — DogBiscuitthedope
- Pence did not hit well in the NLDS but it was his first post-season appearance and we later learned he was playing with a sports hernia. I think his post-season play goes up from what we saw in 2011. A full year of this guy is going to be fun. He has his flaws but I actually like him a lot more than I thought I would. He seemed overpriced to me until I saw him play regularly. — s
- Good deal! Let's eat!
— TexColorado - they need to throw a little bit of money at Victorino. He's the most underpaid player on the team— franknbeans
- Yes, excellent ... now bring on the season :-)— petergou
- 22 days to report. Who is Speedqueen Mistress?
Pence. Nice. Long term deal will get done in time. No need to rush.
I suspect Pierre will have the half-life of an atom on this team given the depletion of his energy and production. We'll see.— 24sDad - One year deals are bogus for young primetime foundation players like Pence and Hamels.Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers will be chomping at the bits to get a shot at Hamels and the price is going up by the week (20 mil for Lincecum 2 yrs.). C'mon RA lets get 'er done !!!— soprano50
- Theriot signed with the Giants... In another news, I agree with Bear, not a nice comment by that dude. And we don't need to sign Pence to a multi-year deal yet. We control his services for another year. Now, Hamels and Vic, well, that's different. Can we sign both in the offseason? If Pierre shows that he still have some gas left in the tank (remember he stole 68 bases a year ago and last year his BA would have been tied for third with Vic in the Phillies line up), Vic could be moved for that much needed infield prospect (3B).— EL Zorro
