Posted: Monday, February 22, 2010, 3:29 PM | 13 comments |
 

Jayson Werth speaks
options
 

In live chats lately, it feels like 80% of the questions are about Jayson Werth. Fans are obviously interested in whether he will remain a Philly beyond 2010. Werth spoke about that today (though he did not want to talk about his new look); here is some of what he had to say: 

“I think everybody knows the situation. It’s not secret, but really I’m focused on playing baseball and being part of another championship season.
 
Does he see himself as comparable to Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, who both received generous contracts this offseason?
 
“I think their situation is a little different from mine. I think I’m a season away from something like that. I think I’m really just focused on being part of something special again.”
 
Would he be open to discussion a contract extension during the season?
"We’ll have to see. That’s what I’ve got an agent for. They handle all that stuff. My focus is the Philadelphia Phillies, the guys in that clubhouse, the city of Philadelphia, and winning another championship.
 
"This is the first time I’ve been in a situation like that, where you’re dealing with a long-term deal and extensions and all that. This is the first time I’ve had an opportunity at that. We’ll deal with that as it comes, but it’s not something I’m going to be focused on."
 
Have he and the Phillies talked yet about an extension?
“Very preliminary….nothing really.”
 
Does he feel that the Phillies budget limitations will be a factor in his future?
“I haven’t really thought about it. I know that how much they’re spending is an issue. I think its’ always an issue no matter what the situation is. I definitely think that will play a part of it going forward, but that’s something my agent and the team will work out. But hopefully it will work out and I’ll be in Philadelphia for a long time…I’m already a part of something special here, and have been for the past few years. To continue that would be awesome, it’s just going forward, we’re going to have to see what works.”
  
Does he feel that he owes the Phillies anything because he gave them an opportunity?
“It’s tough to say right now. Spring training starts tomorrow, and yes, I am very grateful for what they’ve done for me, Pat Gillick and Charlie Manuel and even Ruben. It’s an interesting situation for me to be in, for me to describe, for you to describe what I’m trying to say. I don’t want to be sitting here and blowing smoke or anything like that, but I love the Phillies, I love Philadelphia, I love playing there, I love my teammates, and again, I’m just focused on the task at hand.”
Posted by Andy Martino @ 3:29 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:38 PM, 02/22/2010
    Just about the perfect attitude and exactly what you want to hear him say. Reading between the lines, he's not asking for monster Bay/Holliday money.
    — vafan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:18 PM, 02/22/2010
    vafan--Then he is an idiot. And I don't believe that, what he is saying is I hope, I hope, I hope I have another great years so my kids and I never have to worry about money ever again. Cha-Ching
    — KINGOFZED
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:43 PM, 02/22/2010
    Werth is right in saying he needs another year like 2009 to command that type of contract. Even if he has a down year, I believe a team would offer him a contract in the 5-8 million per year range. The real question is will the Phils raise their $140 mil payroll for 2011? With $130 mil commited to 15 players it's going to be tough paying 10 good baseball players an average of $1 million per year. IMO... I think the phils accidentally increased their payroll for 2011 because of the backloaded contracts, thus having to break their $140 million cap to put a winning team out on the field. And if that's the case, they might as well try to resign Werth and focus on keeping their "cap" at $140 mil for the 2012 season and beyond.
    — BammBamm
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:07 PM, 02/22/2010
    See how Domonic Brown is doing in the minors... if good then trade him this year!!!
    — JerryD
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:14 PM, 02/22/2010
    He's going to have to have a far better numbers than he did last year to have the nerve to ask for Holliday money!!! His numbers were good, but not THAT good! His average WAS average, and his power only came against lefties. Not that that is bad, just sayin'. I love J-Dub but he is not "Werth" (lol) that much, not yet.
    — sima_down_nah
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:42 PM, 02/22/2010
    vafan, I think he would take less money and/or less years from Philly then he would from another team, but this is his big and probably last opportunity to cash in, so while he loves Philly and would prefer to play out his career in red pinstripes, I can't see him passing on millions and millions of guaranteed money to stay in Philly. Would you?
    — The Reddgie
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:42 PM, 02/22/2010
    Jayson, we love you man.
    — Wm Penn
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:15 PM, 02/22/2010
    It's too soon to say. We need to see what he does this year and what he asks for. Either way I love the guy and wish him well.
    — smfree31
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:10 AM, 02/23/2010
    He is young and has some serious bling (if it is still ok to refer to a World Series ring like that). I see Mr. Werth as yet another "journeymen" player. He is a wandering minstrel seeking a happy tune wherever he lands his talents. If he lucks out, he may just get a few more rings, but Cooperstown is still a long way off!
    — Eagle1Vegas
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:34 AM, 02/23/2010
    pay the man his money! He's werth it! And we still should have kept cliff lee for 1 year and been a stone cold mortal lock for the W/S title..
    — tucole
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:23 AM, 02/23/2010
    Pete................very funny! who in the world do you think you are.........
    — tsump


13 comments
About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
To submit a question for Matt Gelb's Phillies mailbag, click here.

Join on Facebook    Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here
BASEBALL NEWS FROM PHILLY.COM
Rest is best for Halladay
How will Galvis fit in?
Scout was wary about Doc
Phillies power past Mets
Phillies' Halladay gets second opinion
The Phillies Zone: A source of pride for Manuel
Latest Phillies Videos