Phils sign Ibanez

[flyer85]

They have replaced their RH bat with a lesser lefthanded bat in Ibanez. The Phillies just downgraded and got older.

Ibanez career OPS is .818 and Burrell's is .852. Ibanez will be 37.

The Phillies have agreed to a three-year contract with free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez, pending a physical. The deal is believed to be worth $30 million over three years.

The 36-year-old Ibanez will become the Phillies' new everyday leftfielder, and his signing means the Phillies no longer will pursue their longtime leftfielder, Pat Burrell, who is also a free agent.

Ibanez had drawn significant interest from a number of teams, including the Cubs, Mets, Angels and Braves. But he had been sending signals through friends that the Phillies were his first choice.

And the Phillies stepped up their efforts to sign him Thursday after it became known that the Angels also were negotiating the parameters of a deal with Ibanez as their No. 1 alternative if they lost out in efforts to sign Mark Teixeira.

Ibanez, who turns 37 next June, has spent the past five seasons with the Mariners, where he was a longtime favorite of Pat Gillick, then the Mariners' GM and now the outgoing Phillies GM.

Ibanez hit .293 this season, with 23 homers, 110 RBIs, a .358 on-base percentage and a .472 slugging percentage. He is one of just five outfielders who have driven in at least 100 runs in each of the past three seasons. The others: Carlos Beltran, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee and Bobby Abreu.

[BRM]

3/30 for Ibanez? Maybe prices aren't going to drop all that much after all.

[Jpup]

I can't imagine why there is so much interest in Ibanez. He must be a really good guy or something because he's really not that great.

[Jpup]

3/30 for Ibanez? Maybe prices aren't going to drop all that much after all.

It's about what I expected though. I guessed Burrell at about 10 million per. I would expect Abreu and Dunn to get a little more, but it depends on where they go. I Abreu can get a deal with the Yankees, I expect him to return there.

[BRM]

It's about what I expected though. I guessed Burrell at about 10 million per. I would expect Abreu and Dunn to get a little more, but it depends on where they go. I Abreu can get a deal with the Yankees, I expect him to return there.

Burrell, Dunn, and Abreu should all get more than Ibanez.

[dfs]

3/30 for Ibanez? Maybe prices aren't going to drop all that much after all.

You mean maybe the owners cried poor again but are going to cough up the money once free agent season arrives?

There's a surprise. You can set your calender by it.

[Jpup]

Burrell, Dunn, and Abreu should all get more than Ibanez.

Oh, I agree. I was just saying that I guessed Burrell would get 10 million per before this signing.

[jojo]

Wowsers....the Phils really do hate their fans (I thought it was the other way around). :-)

Seriously, he's a great guy and I wish him the best (and may he continue to give stat heads the finger as he steps to the plate), but I think this one is a reach.

[Heath]

Wow. A 36yr old corner OF'er gets' 10 Mill.

[PuffyPig]

He's a good , consistent hitter in a pitchers ballpark. he can field.

His offense should spike in that Philly park.

Considering the years and money, he's likely a better fit in Philly than Burrell.

[Jpup]

Considering the years and money, he's likely a better fit in Philly than Burrell.

why?

[remdog]

Burrell, Dunn, and Abreu should all get more than Ibanez.

Based upon what Ibanez just signed for that would be a true statement.

Personally however, I think the Phils just overpaid.

Rem

[RedEye]

He's a good , consistent hitter in a pitchers ballpark. he can field.

His offense should spike in that Philly park.

Considering the years and money, he's likely a better fit in Philly than Burrell.

My friend who is an M's fan had me under the impression that Ibanez was a terrible outfielder. He's very happy to replace him with Franklin Gutierrez.

[flyer85]

He's a good , consistent hitter in a pitchers ballpark. he can field.

Safeco is not a bad park for LH hitters ... and the ballpark you play doesn't change who you are. Everyone else gets a bump as well.

When you reach 37-39 there is an excellent chance that skills will erode very quickly. Ibanez for 3 years is extremely risky.

[BRM]

Based upon what Ibanez just signed for that would be a true statement.

Personally however, I think the Phils just overpaid.

Rem

No doubt. He's not much better defensively than the guy he's replacing and he's quite a bit older. Offense is a push at best.