The Best Signing You Didn't Hear About (Until It Was Made Official Today)

If I could give you a player that's averaged over 95 RBI's, 20 homer runs, and a batting average better than .290 over the last seven (yes, seven) seasons, would you sign him?

I'm sure you would. But, likely, you're desperate refrain would be something to the effect of , "Well, unless we're the Yankees, we don't have the dough to sign Mark Teixeira."

What if I told you it'd only cost you around 30 million? Still intrigued?


I'd have to imagine so, and apparently, this line of reasoning intrigued the Phillies enough to give this guy right here a three year deal worth just over 31 million.





The question I have is, why weren't more teams going after Raul Ibanez? Sure, he throws likes a Pony Leaguer, and doesn't have great range. But, how many left fielders are signed for their defense?


Nowadays, to get a player that puts up the numbers that Ibanez has (in a pitcher's park like Safeco, no less) you've gotta be prepared to shell out well over the century mark. To get him for a third of that, for only three years...well, folks around my way call that a bargain.


Not to mention, the soft-spoken Ibanez (who, granted, isn't a spry chick, but isn't the kind of guy anyone's counting on to lead a rebuilding effort) replaces the ill-tempered, disliked Pat Burrell.


If you're the Phillies, it's a win-win. If you're just about anyone else, you're wondering, why didn't we think of this?