Raul Ibanez to the Phillies (1 Viewer)

[Eephus]

Ibanez replaces Burrell in LF. He's coming off a very productive year but will be 39 at the end of this contract. He's pretty brutal in the OF but it's hard to downgrade from Burrell. The Phillies can't very well move him to 1B or DH if he loses another step.

I've been expecting his decline to start for a few years now, but he turns around with a near career year in 2008 where he played in every game.

 

[boubucarow]

Really glad the Cubs didn't sign him. Although the Phillies sticking him in left is much less a liablity than the Cubs sticking in right would be.

 

[blackjack23]

How many lefties can the Phillies actually start?

 

[Snotbubbles]

How many lefties can the Phillies actually start?

Lefties: Utley, Howard, IbanezRighties: Werth, Feliz, RuizSwitch: Rollins, VictorinoThat's about as balanced as you can get.

 

[Capella]

Butcher. Neyer summed it up best when he said the Phils spent 30M on a guy who won't help them win anymore games.

Lot of bad signings so far. This guy was better off in the AL.

 

[blackjack23]

How many lefties can the Phillies actually start?

Lefties: Utley, Howard, IbanezRighties: Werth, Feliz, RuizSwitch: Rollins, VictorinoThat's about as balanced as you can get.

True but most of their power is from the left side.

 

[Oh Yes!]

Really glad the Cubs didn't sign him. Although the Phillies sticking him in left is much less a liablity than the Cubs sticking in right would be.

you want bradley? i personally wouldnt mind ibanez..

 

[boubucarow]

Really glad the Cubs didn't sign him. Although the Phillies sticking him in left is much less a liablity than the Cubs sticking in right would be.

you want bradley? i personally wouldnt mind ibanez..

Don't want any of them really. Abreu could be pushed on me but I am leaning against that signing. I would like them to see about the availability of Brian Giles because he is a much better hitter versus righties which is what they need, he also is a solid defender unlike any of the names mentioned, he is good in the clubhouse unlike a Bradley, and he gets on base a ton. Otherwise, I would rather have DeRosa and Hoffpauir platoon than give two or three years to any of the available players.

 

[Oh Yes!]

Really glad the Cubs didn't sign him. Although the Phillies sticking him in left is much less a liablity than the Cubs sticking in right would be.

you want bradley? i personally wouldnt mind ibanez..

Don't want any of them really. Abreu could be pushed on me but I am leaning against that signing. I would like them to see about the availability of Brian Giles because he is a much better hitter versus righties which is what they need, he also is a solid defender unlike any of the names mentioned, he is good in the clubhouse unlike a Bradley, and he gets on base a ton. Otherwise, I would rather have DeRosa and Hoffpauir platoon than give two or three years to any of the available players.

i hear ya...maybe ####udome can pull his head out his butt...

 

[Please See Mine]

How many lefties can the Phillies actually start?

Lefties: Utley, Howard, IbanezRighties: Werth, Feliz, RuizSwitch: Rollins, VictorinoThat's about as balanced as you can get.

Is Werth going to hit 5th? If not, then those 3 lefties in a row are going to be a problem.

 

[Please See Mine]

Ibanez replaces Burrell in LF. He's coming off a very productive year but will be 39 at the end of this contract. He's pretty brutal in the OF but it's hard to downgrade from Burrell. The Phillies can't very well move him to 1B or DH if he loses another step.

They can if they trade Howard.

 

[boubucarow]

Really glad the Cubs didn't sign him. Although the Phillies sticking him in left is much less a liablity than the Cubs sticking in right would be.

you want bradley? i personally wouldnt mind ibanez..

Don't want any of them really. Abreu could be pushed on me but I am leaning against that signing. I would like them to see about the availability of Brian Giles because he is a much better hitter versus righties which is what they need, he also is a solid defender unlike any of the names mentioned, he is good in the clubhouse unlike a Bradley, and he gets on base a ton. Otherwise, I would rather have DeRosa and Hoffpauir platoon than give two or three years to any of the available players.

i hear ya...maybe ####udome can pull his head out his butt...

Hideki improved a lot in Year 2. Kaz declined big time. He is a good fielder in right and probably decent in center and a little improvement will result in a 380 OBP. So we could do worse.

 

[MAC_32]

Butcher. Neyer summed it up best when he said the Phils spent 30M on a guy who won't help them win anymore games.Lot of bad signings so far. This guy was better off in the AL.

Brutal signing.

 

[Capella]

Keith Law shredded this deal. Said it was stupid not to offer Burrell arb and take the one-year deal or the draft picks and it was made worse by turning around and offering a lessor player essentially the same deal but then locking him up till age 40 while he's a dinosaur in the field.

I don't get what Philly was thinking here.

 

[RnR]

Keith Law shredded this deal. Said it was stupid not to offer Burrell arb and take the one-year deal or the draft picks and it was made worse by turning around and offering a lessor player essentially the same deal but then locking him up till age 40 while he's a dinosaur in the field.I don't get what Philly was thinking here.

I agree wif Capasaurus. Not impressed at all.

 

[belljr]

I'd rather I play left then this

 

[The Noid]

So they now go and lock up Moyer until he's 48 and sign 35 year-old Chan Ho Park.

I've heard of teams trying to get younger, but never going out of their way to get way older.

 

[crewmember]

Doom and Gloom in here. This one's gonna get bumped in the summer

 

[RnR]

Doom and Gloom in here. This one's gonna get bumped in the summer

Maybe it will, but let's wait until the fall of 2011 before we determine if he was worth 30 mil.

 

[eoMMan]

Phils fan here......not crazy about this signing at all. I would have been happier with a younger guy who didn't have so good of a year last year but had the better chance of improving on those numbers where Ibanez will probably decline off of last year's numbers.

 

[RedRaiders]

Keith Law shredded this deal. Said it was stupid not to offer Burrell arb and take the one-year deal or the draft picks and it was made worse by turning around and offering a lessor player essentially the same deal but then locking him up till age 40 while he's a dinosaur in the field.I don't get what Philly was thinking here.

Curiously, the team was afraid of what his arb # would be and since you don't find out until February, they didn't want that to hold up their offseason moves. Essentially - they didn't want to end up with both Ibanez AND Burrell since they obviously had no intention of offering Burrell any kind of long term deal. With the arb $ due to WORLD SERIES MVP COLE HAMELS and Ryan Howard, I guess they didn't want to risk it. Not that Amaro knocked one out of the park here, but with no OFs in the farm system worth anything, there was a chance come mid Feb that they would find themselves with NO leftfielder (esp since Burrell has not signed anywhere yet).

 

[MAC_32]

...there was a chance come mid Feb that they would find themselves with NO leftfielder (esp since Burrell has not signed anywhere yet).

Given the flood of available talent at the position I highly doubt that.

 

[RedRaiders]

...there was a chance come mid Feb that they would find themselves with NO leftfielder (esp since Burrell has not signed anywhere yet).

Given the flood of available talent at the position I highly doubt that.

Yeah but they don't know who would have signed where prior to Burrell's situation being resolved. They would have been handcuffed until Feb because there's no way Burrell signs a 1 year deal to avoid the arb hearing. Ibanez would have been a Met and their opinions of the others available obv isn't very high. I'm not in love with the signing but if he's their guy then you can't hold onto Burrell given the economic situation.

 

[MAC_32]

...there was a chance come mid Feb that they would find themselves with NO leftfielder (esp since Burrell has not signed anywhere yet).

Given the flood of available talent at the position I highly doubt that.

Yeah but they don't know who would have signed where prior to Burrell's situation being resolved. They would have been handcuffed until Feb because there's no way Burrell signs a 1 year deal to avoid the arb hearing. Ibanez would have been a Met and their opinions of the others available obv isn't very high. I'm not in love with the signing but if he's their guy then you can't hold onto Burrell given the economic situation.

37 year old guys don't tend to get better and his upside is no better than Burrell, and the Phils have him for three years to boot. Ugh. His glove may even have you asking for Burrell's back, both of them are butchers but Ibanez may be worse.

 

[Pat Patriot]

Keith Law shredded this deal. Said it was stupid not to offer Burrell arb and take the one-year deal or the draft picks and it was made worse by turning around and offering a lessor player essentially the same deal but then locking him up till age 40 while he's a dinosaur in the field.I don't get what Philly was thinking here.

Curiously, the team was afraid of what his arb # would be and since you don't find out until February, they didn't want that to hold up their offseason moves. Essentially - they didn't want to end up with both Ibanez AND Burrell since they obviously had no intention of offering Burrell any kind of long term deal. With the arb $ due to WORLD SERIES MVP COLE HAMELS and Ryan Howard, I guess they didn't want to risk it. Not that Amaro knocked one out of the park here, but with no OFs in the farm system worth anything, there was a chance come mid Feb that they would find themselves with NO leftfielder (esp since Burrell has not signed anywhere yet).

Burrell made $14 million last year and had a good year. Who knows what his arbitration number would be. You dont see too many pay decreasees in arbitration. I dont think the Phils wanted Burrell at $16 million even for one year. Especially since that is what Burrell is getting for 2 years from the Rays.

 

[Big Dumb Ape]

Mariners fan here, and Ibanez is a great guy and a good bat, but he's an absolute butcher in left, and in no way should be allowed to wear a glove again ever. Him signing that deal early on might have been one of the smartest moves of the offseason when you look at where the market for outfielders is going. Gillick has always liked him though - he's the one who originally brought Ibanez to Seattle.

I really don't get what Philly was thinking here, but I'm happy the M's got their 1st rounder and a sandwich pick.

 

[jobarules]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

 

[MAC_32]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

My favorite schtick, the I told you so bump when you never said anything in the first place.

 

[jobarules]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

My favorite schtick, the I told you so bump when you never said anything in the first place.

i was one of the people included in the foolish

 

[Eephus]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

bump it again two years from now

 

[MAC_32]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

My favorite schtick, the I told you so bump when you never said anything in the first place.

i was one of the people included in the foolish

My bad.

 

[Darth Cheney]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

bump it again two years from now

If he helps them get back to the playoffs and maybe win the WS this year....who gives a rats ### about the third year of his contract. Guys....wins count....not cost per win.

 

[crewmember]

Doom and Gloom in here. This one's gonna get bumped in the summer

RAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLL

 

[Eephus]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

bump it again two years from now

If he helps them get back to the playoffs and maybe win the WS this year....who gives a rats ### about the third year of his contract. Guys....wins count....not cost per win.

He's had a nice two months.

 

[Darth Cheney]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

bump it again two years from now

If he helps them get back to the playoffs and maybe win the WS this year....who gives a rats ### about the third year of his contract. Guys....wins count....not cost per win.

He's had a nice two months.

The wins he's helped get them in the first two count just as much as the wins in the last two...(regular season)

 

[MAC_32]

The wins he's helped get them in the first two count just as much as the wins in the last two...(regular season)

Try telling that to Philly fans last season.

 

[RnR]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

bump it again two years from now

If he helps them get back to the playoffs and maybe win the WS this year....who gives a rats ### about the third year of his contract. Guys....wins count....not cost per win.

He's had a nice two months.

Let's get through half a season before we hand him the key to the city, mmmmmk?

 

[jobarules]

lots of people looking foolish here. he may be bad in the field but he is a far better hitter than burrell.

bump it again two years from now

If he helps them get back to the playoffs and maybe win the WS this year....who gives a rats ### about the third year of his contract. Guys....wins count....not cost per win.

He's had a nice two months.

Let's get through half a season before we hand him the key to the city, mmmmmk?

I have a little doubt hes better than Burrell.

 

[RnR]

I have a little doubt hes better than Burrell.

He's older, making more money, and signed to a longer contract. It's also May 24th of year 1. It is entirely possible that he turns out to be better than Pat Burrell over the next few seasons, but that doesn't necessarily make this a good signing.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

In a league without a salary cap who cares how much they spent on a player. The Phils showed they are willing to eat salary anyway with Adam Eaton and Geoff Jenkins.

The guy is now playing in a hitters park and putting up sick numbers at the same time playing a better LF then Burell ever did...I'll enjoy it

 

[RnR]

In a league without a salary cap who cares how much they spent on a player. The Phils showed they are willing to eat salary anyway with Adam Eaton and Geoff Jenkins.

This a serious statement? Hell, why not sign half the league and see what sticks. No salary cap, no problems...This isn't Monopoly money, Chachi.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

In a league without a salary cap who cares how much they spent on a player. The Phils showed they are willing to eat salary anyway with Adam Eaton and Geoff Jenkins.

This a serious statement? Hell, why not sign half the league and see what sticks. No salary cap, no problems...This isn't Monopoly money, Chachi.

Did I say sign half the league ? I was referring to just what they spend on players they target. I like Pat Burell but he is notoriously streaky and prone to extended slumps. How is he doing in Tampa?Ibanez is not prone to extended slumps and being in the Phils stacked lineup was going to be a huge benefit to him coming in.The Phillies are printing money down in South Philly right now, so to them money for an extra year is not a problem, Potzie

 

[comfortably numb]

Steroids is a a hell of a drug

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

 

[dparker713]

I thought the signing made no sense at the time, but at this rate he's going to post 20 mil or more worth of value this year alone.

 

[MAC_32]

The only player I can think of that sucked during the Steroid Era and once he went past his prime age (after the Steroid era) into his mid 30's he blew up and sustained it.

You don't have to understand why, it just is, I don't get it, and neither do any of you. Just enjoy it Philly fans, he's absolutely raking it.

 

[jobarules]

The only player I can think of that sucked during the Steroid Era and once he went past his prime age (after the Steroid era) into his mid 30's he blew up and sustained it.You don't have to understand why, it just is, I don't get it, and neither do any of you. Just enjoy it Philly fans, he's absolutely raking it.

His first good year was 2001 at age 31. That was in the midst of the steroid era.

 

[MAC_32]

The only player I can think of that sucked during the Steroid Era and once he went past his prime age (after the Steroid era) into his mid 30's he blew up and sustained it.You don't have to understand why, it just is, I don't get it, and neither do any of you. Just enjoy it Philly fans, he's absolutely raking it.

His first good year was 2001 at age 31. That was in the midst of the steroid era.

Good? Yes, he was good in 01 and 02, tapered a bit from 03-05 (age catching up to him?) and then, boom, he's been good to great since, from age 35-38. Can you explain that?

 

[Wrigley]

The only player I can think of that sucked during the Steroid Era and once he went past his prime age (after the Steroid era) into his mid 30's he blew up and sustained it.

You don't have to understand why, it just is, I don't get it, and neither do any of you. Just enjoy it Philly fans, he's absolutely raking it.

His first good year was 2001 at age 31. That was in the midst of the steroid era.

Good? Yes, he was good in 01 and 02, tapered a bit from 03-05 (age catching up to him?) and then, boom, he's been good to great since, from age 35-38. Can you explain that?

EZ, he did the clear and the cream..............but I'm sure he didn't know what it was

 

[jobarules]

The only player I can think of that sucked during the Steroid Era and once he went past his prime age (after the Steroid era) into his mid 30's he blew up and sustained it.You don't have to understand why, it just is, I don't get it, and neither do any of you. Just enjoy it Philly fans, he's absolutely raking it.

His first good year was 2001 at age 31. That was in the midst of the steroid era.

Good? Yes, he was good in 01 and 02, tapered a bit from 03-05 (age catching up to him?) and then, boom, he's been good to great since, from age 35-38. Can you explain that?

His OPS since 2001 seems fairly consistent:.848 .883 .799 .825 .791 .869 .831 .837 This year he has been great with an OPS over 1. No I cannot explain that except for maybe he hits in a bandbox and his "greatness" was held down somewhat by the pitcher's park he used to play in.