Report: The Phillies Will Re-Sign Carlos Ruiz
Sources: Free-agent catcher Carlos Ruiz re-signing with #Phillies.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 18, 2013
Chooch es back.
Oh God. It’s going to be four years, isn’t it?
UPDATE: Matt Gelb reports it’s a three-year, $26 million deal. Whyyyyyyyy?
There was reportedly a two-year, $20 million deal on the table. So the Phillies offered an extra year and $6 million more.
UPDATE 2: The Phillies may have outbid themselves. From Todd Zolecki, last week:
But the process has been interesting to follow. FOXSports.com reported this week that Ruiz’s agent told one team his client has a two-year, $20 million offer on the table. Some speculated it could be the Red Sox. Some speculated it could be the Rockies. In fact, the Denver Post reported that Colorado made a two-year, $15 million offer, but has since moved on. The Rockies had no desire to meet or exceed that price.
Interestingly, nobody considered the Phillies might have made the $20 million offer.
UPDATE 3: The Phils’ offer reportedly includes a team option for a fourth year, according to Gelb:
The deal, a source said, includes a $4.5 million club option for a fourth season.
UPDATE 4: Jayson Stark says the Rockies were in it… until they realized three years and more than $20 million is just silly for a 35-year-old (when season starts) catcher coming off a sharp decline following a PED suspension:
I've heard #RedSox were in Ruiz negotiations right to the end. It appears #Phillies guaranteed 3rd year & hiked AAV to keep him.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) November 18, 2013
UPDATE 5: Idle thought: The Phillies have signed a 36-year-old former PED user coming off a mysterious power surge in a contract year to a two-year deal, and a 35-year-old catcher, also suspended for PEDs, coming off the worst year in five seasons to a three-year deal. It’s November 18.
Anyway, let’s separate Amaro’s ineptitude from the fact that Ruiz is adorable. CHOOOOOOCH.