Pat Burrell contract

[marfis]

Well, as yet on the place where it was first expounded on this subject, there is no place for a follow-up analysis, it can be attempted to resume here. On the original Phuture Phillies site where it was argued, it has been seen that some have implied or said that Burrell could have been signed for 8 million a year for 2 years, and that would be cheaper than Ibanez and on and on and on and on. They are changing their story , they first said Burrell should be offered arbitration. Burrell would have got at least 16 million a year in arbitration, as he had the numbers for a raise and nobody gets a cut. As to the decision whether Burrell would have accepted arbitration or not, (and players are advised by very monetarily smart people) the choice would have been $16 million a year for one year or $16 million a year over 2 years. Tough choice? Those who said it was in team interest to offer arbitration and that he would have declined seem to be very wrong and it should be admitted as such. As to the Kieth Law generated theory that Burrell is better at fielding, hitting , and playing than Ibanez, 32 MLB front offices disagree. Ibanez was sought after by more than one team and landed an outfield position, while Burrell was passed over by NL teams in need of an outfielder, not one AL team viewed him as an outfielder, and Tampa Bay will clearly use him as a DH. Hitting --same story.

As to the money issue , although some said he would get as much or more that Ibanez. I, and this is just analysis not blowing own horn, said that at best Burrell would, at best get $8 million a year for 2 years( I also opined it would not be a surprise if Burrell got around 4 million a year or so or was still unsigned by opening day---incorrectly) so Burrell made his best deal by what I believed.

So in summation, I called it.

[griffey423]

Marfis - don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. ;D

But seriously, I just think it is a bad trade for the Phillies. I'm not too upset that they didn't offer him arbitration, because as you said he would've accepted which would've cost the team more money. I'm concerned that a) they could've gotten Ibanez cheaper had they waited or b) they could've resigned Burrell for even less than the 2/16, which would've kept the line-up a bit less left-handed. Overall, I'm not too extremely upset by the way things turned out, it just seems to me it could've been handled better by the team and that they third year of this contract is going to be a tough one to swallow.

[smitty]

The Angels, Cubs, Mets and Braves were all after Ibanez at the time the Phils signed him. I don't think waiting was an option.

The Phils got the guy they wanted. Time will tell if that is a good thing or not.