Joe Blanton Agrees to 3-year Contract with Phillies!!!

Joe Blanton and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $24 million, three-year contract that avoided a salary arbitration hearing next month.

“We’ve been attempting to upgrade our rotation and we feel like we’ve done that,” Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said in a statement. “We think Joe is a very strong, competitive pitcher that has the mental makeup to pitch productively in a pennant race. He pitches a lot of innings and takes some burden off the bullpen.”

The 29-year-old right-hander was 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA last year during the regular season and didn't get a decision in two post-season starts and two relief appearances. After making $5,475,000 last year, he asked for $10.25 million in arbitration and was offered $7.5 million.

"It's one of those deals where it's very bittersweet," Blanton told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I'm going to a very good team with a very good lineup. They're in the division hunt and they're out to win a championship, and that's what any player wants. But I've always been with the A's, and I have great relationships there. It's one of those double-sided coins." says Blanton.

All-Star centre fielder Shane Victorino and catcher Carlos Ruiz remain in arbitration.

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