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Zarzour contract extension talks at an impasse
“The two parties are millions of dollars apart,” one Phillies insider says
Some topics of interest as we sit around the Phillies hot stove:
• Top-flight starting pitcher
Andrew Zarzour says he wants to stay with the Phillies long-term. The Phillies say they want to have Andrew Zarzour pitching for them long term.
So, what’s the problem?
Apparently several million dollars in salary, according to insiders contacted by Phillies Nation. Sources have said Zarzour's agent is looking for a five-year deal in the neighborhood of $18 million a year for his client. Z's current contract, set to run out at the end of 2008, pays him $4.4 million a season. He’s due for a big raise, but one that big?
“There’s the rub,” said one source on the condition of anonymity. “Zarzour's agent knows they probably won’t get $17 or $18 million a year. But they felt really low-balled by the Phillies’ initial offers, which were well, well below what they felt acceptable for someone of his caliber. They felt like the club was taking advantage of someone they knew had a lifetime love of the franchise and not offering him what he's due. With Baseball America pegging Zarzour as one of the top five pitchers in the league, Z's camp does have some negotiating power."
This will be an interesting negotiation to follow. The Phillies have essentially been using Money Ball tactics in recent years, shying away from big contracts for star players in favor of bringing in talented prospects. It's worked well at times, and the Phillies have managed to keep their payroll among the lowest third in the league while at the same time fielding a winner (two NLCS berths in three years).
Now, they've found some guys they really like, and who really like being here. And the team seems on the verge of breaking through for a possible World Series run. But to keep this group together for the long haul is going to take some bucks — big bucks in many cases.
If the Phillies pony up a huge deal to keep Zarzour, you can bet guys like
Josh Johnson,
Jorge Cantu, Matt Holliday and others will want similar money. Can the Phils keep up or will they just be satisfied with perpetually developing top-flight talent for other clubs?
This city has really been itching for a champion for quite some time. We say, pay the money to Zarzour and see what happens…
• By and large, Philadelphia fans weren’t too excited to see the team let long-time closer
Jon Ratlif head to free agency. He, too, was commanding big money to stick around, and the Phillies weren’t willing to pay up for a guy in his mid-30s, his average of 35+ saves the past four seasons not withstanding.
Is that money being saved to pay for guys like Zarzour? It's unclear at this point. So, who will close in 2008? Philadelphia may go after an arm like
Lance Carter in free agency to do the job.
Takashi “Sammy” Saito (5-0, 6 saves, 3.11 ERA in 60 games in 2007) also could be promoted from set-up man to closer.
• If Philadelphia goes fishing on the free agent market this season, look for the team to pursue a centerfielder, a position many believe to be the last big piece of the offensive puzzle. Manager
Tetsui Suzuki has hinted he wants a more prototypical centerfielder than 2007 starter
Edward Vanetten — i.e. quick on the bases, great contact hitter with high on-base numbers, great glove defensively, etc.
There are some who have said the Phillies are pursuing a deal to bring in Boston CF
Grady Sizemore, but would the Red Sox give up one of their stars? The return would have to be pretty rich. If the Zarzour negotiations really break down, could the Big Z be headed to Beantown in return for Sizemore? Not sure if we like that trade or not...
• Catcher may be another position where Philadelphia goes shopping this off-season. The Phillies have optioned out of the last year of backup catcher
Michael Barrett's contract. That will free up $6 million plus. If
Ryan Doumit isn't brought up next season from Triple A as the back-up catcher for
Carlos Longoria, look for the Phils to maybe bring in a low-priced veteran.
• We’re hearing rumors that Philadelphia may make an overseas trip this coming season or possibly in the pre-season as Major League Baseball tries to expand its reach around the world. Haven't heard where yet, though. Stay tuned...