Philadelphia Phillies offer arbitration to free agent trio – MLB Update
The Philadelphia Phillies followed suit of almost all Major League Baseball teams and offered arbitration to their top free agent players, ensuring draft pick compensation should these players’ sign elsewhere. The Phillies extended arbitration to shortstop
Jimmy Rollins, closer Ryan Madson and out-fielder Raul Ibanez, hinting that there might be some major changes in the roster before the next season begins on April 4, 2012.
The Phillies are not content on extending long-term offers to free agents, but that is exactly opposite to what the players want. The management is pursuing Rollins and are willing to offer a three-year contract, but the shortstop is sure to settle with
nothing less than five-years. Finances might not be an issue for the ballclub and Jonathan Papelbon’s 50-million-dollar signing from Boston Red Sox earlier in the offseason has further clarified this assertion.
Papelbon’s signing has raised questions on Madson’s future as the Phillies will no longer be requiring services of an additional closer. It is not that Ryan was not talented enough for the job, but the team’s sudden ouster has forced the management to make
radical changes to the ballclub. Although the Phillies supposedly had the best rotation on the circuit, their decision to allow Roy Oswalt and Ryan to test waters in the free agent market has made it clear that the management felt things needed to be changed.
With arbitration now coming into play, it is unlikely that Rollins and Madson will accept it and come back for a one-year stint with the 2008 World Series Champions. Both players are expecting lucrative offers from interested teams and have enough talent
to back their demand. Nevertheless, Ibanez might be propelled to return to the franchise, given that his financial gain with the Phillies will be much more significant than what he might get in the free agent market.
This might have been a tactical move as well, to gain compensation in draft picks if players decline arbitration. While at least two of the three players are expected to decline the offer, it seems that it was a mere formality on the deadline.
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