Lidge, Madson and Phillies Avoid Arbitration
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Closer Brad Lidge and middle reliever Ryan Madson avoded baseball’s salary arbitration mechanism by reaching agreement on one year deals with the Phillies.
For Lidge, a recent trade acquisition from the Houston Astros, the deal means a $1 million raise and for Madson, who saw limited action last season due to right shoulder strain, a $300,000 bump. They both also have performance bonus incentives in their deals.
This leaves only utility infielder Eric Bruntlett, who also came over in the Lidge trade, and powerful 4th year 1st baseman Ryan Howard remaining on the Phillies’ list of arbitration-eligible players.
Regarding Howard, Philly.com’s Paul Hagen wrote earlier this week;
Howard continues to be the knottiest case. Negotiations on a multiyear deal broke down last year and his contract was renewed for $900,000. He figures to make at least $7 million next season, his first year of arbitration eligibility.
MLB.com’s Ken Mandel recounts previous Phillies’ efforts to sign Howard to a long-term deal;
The Phillies explored the possibility of a long-term contract with the slugger last offseason before renewing him for $900,000.
Philadelphia will try that route again this time. But even if they don’t agree on a multiyear deal, Howard can’t become a free agent until after the 2011 season.
In an earlier column, Mandel noted that the Phils had no urgency to sign a long-term deal with Howard but, that the would like to emulate the long-term deal reached with 2nd baseman Chase Utley before last season.
Mandel indicated that either by way of a long-term deal or via a 1 year deal, Howard will get a hefty raise over last season;
Howard will get a pay increase from the $900,000 he earned last season. For comparison, the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera got a salary bump to $7.4 million from $472,000 in 2006 with the Marlins. Also, Howard will be the first baseman on Opening Day 2008 and likely well beyond that.
I just hope that there are incentives to severely reduce strikeouts in whatever deal the Phils reach with Howard as well as mandatory meetings with Hall of Fame former 3rd baseman Mike Schmidt on that issue.
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