Staff Blog
Where's the best sledding hill in Philly? (1 Answer)
Should the Phillies Offer Pat Burrell Arbitration?
 |
| widely respected for his professionalism, I believe Pat Burrell should continue to be part of the organizaiton he came up with |
Bait Burrell is up for arbitration, should the Phillies offer it to him?
Here is why I think the Phillies might not [offer Burrell arbitration]: First, while the Phillies wouldn’t mind having Burrell back on a one-year contract, he certainly will receive a raise from the $14 million he made in 2008. I don’t think the Phillies would want to pay Burrell perhaps $16 million next season because it might preclude them from pursuing somebody like relief pitcher Juan Cruz or maybe even working out a contract extension for somebody like Ryan Madson or Jayson Werth, who can become free agents after the 2009 season. I think there is almost no chance Burrell will make more than $14 million anywhere else next season, so I think if he was offered arbitration he might accept it. So now instead of pursuing other options in left field and maybe bolstering the best bullpen in the National League even more, the Phillies might have their hands tied to make those moves. Of course, by not offering Burrell arbitration the Phillies wouldn’t receive compensation if he signed elsewhere. But again, Burrell has said he wants to come back. And just because the Phillies don’t offer him arbitration, it doesn’t mean he can’t re-sign with the Phillies. He can … for a lower salary. So for those reason, I think the Phillies will not offer him arbitration.
The Phillies will likely offer binding salary arbitration to Type A free agents Jamie Moyer and Pat Burrell by Monday’s midnight ET deadline, ensuring Draft pick compensation should either or both sign elsewhere.
By doing so, the team secures a first-round pick from their respective new team, provided that club finished with one of the 15 best records in 2008. If not, the Phillies would receive that team’s second-round pick. In either case, Philadelphia will also receive a supplemental “sandwich” pick between the first and second rounds.
[snip]
Moyer is believed be close to a contract agreement, but the two sides have had difficulty coordinating schedules. Burrell is a dicier proposition, with the Phillies reportedly unwilling to go beyond a two-year proposal. Burrell is likely to find a better offer.
I think I’m with Ken here. Burrell may not be worth 14+ million this year, but, as the old saying goes, you don’t pay a prostitute for sex, you pay her to leave. The Phillies wouldn’t just be paying Bait for this year, they’d be paying to not have him on the books in future year. Offering him arbitration would basically either give the Phillies future flexibility, or two free draft picks – seems like a no-brainer, especially considering those 3.4 million fans who handed the Phils their hard-earned cash last year.
(BTW, I should get points for making the first ever platonic comparison between Burrell and a whore. Considering that the total number of comparisons is roughly 45,000, that is quite a feat. Maybe I’ll put it on my resume.)
