With Spring Training and pitchers and catchers reporting just a few days away it now has become crunch time for big names to find homes and today an arbitration case and a “free agent” was taken care of it. For the arb case, Howard and the Phillies reached a three year agreement. They usually are on different sides, and Howard usually wins, which has led people to think about what will happen in 2011 when Howard is free go on the market. He was asking for 18 this year, and the Phillies were asking for 14 a year. They agreed today to 18 a year, for the next three years, taking Howard out of his arbritation years. I guess the Phillies here were banking on not only losing this year, but potentially having to pay more an more every year. Plus, this will allow the Phillies and Howard to avoid this awkward period year after year. Personally, I'm hoping that this deal tied up enough money with the Phils that they won't be able to get Ohman off the market for the pen, who does well against the Mets and would help the Phillies a lot.
Jones finally has a home! Well sort of. The Rangers are “set to sign him” according to Mlbtraderumors.com. The deal sounds like right now that its going to be half a million, plus a million if he makes the team. He will have to compete though with minor league and prospect talent, so the chances of Jones making the team is slim. I hope for him, especially now that he is in the American league and the Mets don't have to worry about him, that he makes it because he really has a lot of talent, it just has seemed to disapear over the last few years.
