Filed under: Phillies, NL East, MLB Transactions
The Philadelphia Phillies have avoided salary arbitration with right-handed starting pitcher Joe Blanton, as the two sides have agreed to a three-year, $24 million extension, FanHouse’s Ed Price has learned.
Blanton was willing to backload the contract in order to get a few more years. Thus, the deal will pay him $7 million this season, $8.5 million in 2011 and $8.5 million in 2012. Blanton was seeking $10.25 million in arbitration, while the Phillies offered just $7.5 million, so this contract is really a win for both sides.
Blanton, 29, went 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 195 1/3 innings last season for the NL-champion Phillies. He’s also gone 2-0 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in eight postseason appearances the past two seasons for Philadelphia.
