The noise you hear coming from Philadelphia way is "Choooooooooch." The Phillies signed popular catcher Carlos Ruiz to a three-year deal Monday for $26 million that includes an option for a fourth season. Reporter Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer had the terms first.
Jayson Stark of ESPN says the contract/fourth-year buyout breaks down like so.
Ruiz, who turns 35 in January, batted .268/.320/.368 with five homers and 16 doubles in 341 plate appearances — though nearly all of his power came in the second half. About this time a year ago, Major League Baseball announced that he was suspended for the first 25 games of the 2012 season because he tested positive for a banned stimulant.
The Phillies had been linked to A.J. Pierzynski, another free-agent catcher, but that was likely an attempt at leverage against Ruiz. Of course, $26 million always seems like a lot of money, and Ruiz is getting older, but also consider:
Carlos Ruiz: 15.8 WAR since start of 2009 ... that ranks 4th among those whose primary position was catcher (Mauer, Molina, Posey)This is the cost of doing business. However, it's the second big move in a week for the Phillies, who also have allocated $16 million to 36-year-old slugger Marlon Byrd. These transastions aren't necessarily bad on the face, but they're curious for a club coming off 89 losses that also wants to do a major trade so it can restructure the payroll of the entire roster. General manager Ruben Amaro, what are you up to?
— Mark Simon (@msimonespn) November 18, 2013
- - - - - - -David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at[email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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