Chooch Ruiz Signs/What About Werth?(Phillies Jan 26)

January 26, 2010   ·   philliesmania   ·   Jump to comments

 

And Ruiz makes 4! Yes Ruben Amaro did it again. Last season and this season he avoids salary arbitration with all the players who were eligible. Kudos Ruben and the players.

 

 

First Durbin, then Blanton, Victorino, and now Carlos Ruiz.

 

Ruiz, who turns 31 this week, is signed for at least 3 years for a cool $8,850,000. The club also has a 4th year option for $5,000,000 or a $500,000 buy out. I like that addition.  If he out plays his 3 year contract you have a small raise built in for the 4th year. And if he is hitting the wall at that point, you are only out $500,000 grand. He will be 36 at the time also.

 

Keep in mind however that Ruiz has not been a catcher all of his career so the wear and tear is not the same for him as other 31 year old catchers. He was an infielder when he came to the Phillies organization.

 

So the everyday line up looks good for the Phillies and 2010. Likely it will be:

1. Rollins

2. Polanco

3. Utley

4. Howard

5. Werth

6. Ibanez

7. Victorino

8. Ruiz

9. “Pitcher”

 

That is a pretty dynamic line up. Honestly it is even an upgrade of the 2 pennant winning teams! And most of this line up is signed beyond this season. But what about Werth?

 

Yes J Dub is a free agent after this year. Matt Holiday and Jayson Bay who are of similar age and stats both broke the bank this year. Did they raise the bar? Probably. Although I think both got over paid frankly. And there is no way Bay is going to put up those numbers in Citi Bank Park for the Mets.

 

Werth is due to make $7,000,000 for 2010. Assuming he has truly come into his own he naturally is “werthy”of a raise. And since I would let Lidge and Moyer walk there may be room to sign him. But would he take $11 – $13,000,000? Say 2 years and $25,000,000? I doubt it. He probably wants more years for one thing.

You might be able to rip up this years contract and offer him a 2 or 3 year deal for less than he would take next year. But I don’t think the Phillies could do that nor would want too as they are fast approaching there $140,000,000 threshold. But what if?

 

Would Werth take $40,000,000 for 3 years starting right now? That is a little over $13,000,000 per year. So while that is probably $2 – $5 million less than he wants for 2011 and onward, it is $6,000,000 more this season. Maybe? Just an idea.

 

Here is a breakdown from Phillies.com on what Ruben is dealing with:

 

The Phillies now have more than $127 million committed to 14 players for 2011 — Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay ($20 million each), Chase Utley ($15 million), Raul Ibanez, Brad Lidge ($11.5 million each), Cole Hamels ($9.5 million), Joe Blanton, Jimmy Rollins ($8.5 million each), Victorino ($7.5 million), Placido Polanco ($5.25 million), Ryan Madson ($4.5 million), Danys Baez ($2.75 million), Ross Gload ($1.6 million) and Brian Schneider ($1.5 million).

 

It turns out that it ain’t always easy spending other peoples money afterall. But I have to give Ruben a thumbs up overall for what he has done and what he is doing. I don’t agree with everything he has done but he is light years ahead of Ed Wade! Then again who isn’t?

 

Any moves left for Ruben and our Phillies before the season starts in 2010?