After signing a 3 year $31.5 million deal with the Phillies in the off season, I offer the question was it worth it?
How much longer can Raul Ibanez keep up the 100 RBI pace? He is turning 37 this year and for most people not named Barry Bonds or juicing this is the down side of their careers. I know Ibanez has posted good batting averages over the course of his 13 years, but this has been in non-pressure situations and for teams battling for last place. Ibanez has made the playoffs twice – 1997 where he had 26 At Bats, and once again in 2000 where he had 140 At Bats and hit .228.
How will Raul Ibanez react to facing left handed specialists every night? In Seattle, Ibanez did not have to deal with being “the man” but that pressure to perform is on Ibanez since he signed his multi-million dollar contract. Hey, I am the first one to say I hope Raul Ibanez has a career year, but I don’t see it happening. I believe the Phils got to excited and jumped the gun on the market.
Milton Bradley, Rangers/Cubs, 3 years, $30 million
Adam Dunn, Diamondbacks/Nationals, 2 years, $20 million
Pat Burrell, Phillies/Rays, 2 years, $16 million
Juan Rivera, Angels/Angels, 3 years, $12.75 million
Bobby Abreu, Yankees/Angels, 1 year, $6 million
(per David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News)
I really can’t believe Raul Ibanez is making the most money on this list. He has averaged 105 strike outs a year for the last 4 years. Not to mention his OBP is .30 points less than Pat Burrell’s over the last 5 years.
Listen I am not going to sit here and criticize the Phils. We won the freakin’ World Series! But I just don’t know if this was the right move.