In our continuing attempt to erase the bitter memory of still another crushing loss by the Eagles in an NFC Championship game, we offer this reminder. The Phillies are World Champions. I repeat, the Phillies are still World Champions. Or, as Chase Utley might say, World Bleeping Champions.
And the team is learning that winning championships comes with a price. Literally.
The Phils yesterday reached a deal with still another of their free agents. Outfielder Jayson Werth, who blossomed into the regular right-fielder last year while belting 24 home runs and hitting .273, is getting a two-year deal. So how much is Jayson Werth worth? About $10 million.
He’s the latest in what has been a parade of players cashing in this week. Reliever Chad Durbin has signed on for $1.6 million.
Earlier it was Ryan Madson getting a $12 million deal, Shane Victorino getting $3.125 million and pitcher Joe Blanton ringing the cash register for $5.475 million.
The Phils had eight players who were either restricted or unrestricted free agents file for salary arbitration. They have now settled with seven of them.
Only slugger Ryan Howard remains. It appears likely that, as they did last year, the slugger and the team will go to arbitration. Howard wants $18 million; the team is offering $14 million. He made $10 million last year.
Winning world championships is expensive. That’s the great thing about being a fan. It’s not our money. We urge the team to go ahead and do what it takes to sign the best players. Of course, eventually some of that cost will trickle down to the prices of tickets, concessions, T-shirts and everything else.
But remember that feeling as we watched that avalanche of red move down Broad Street last October.
Millions for free agents. Higher prices for tickets. More ads in the stadium and on broadcasts.
A world championship? Priceless.
Isn’t that right, Eagles fans?
And the team is learning that winning championships comes with a price. Literally.
The Phils yesterday reached a deal with still another of their free agents. Outfielder Jayson Werth, who blossomed into the regular right-fielder last year while belting 24 home runs and hitting .273, is getting a two-year deal. So how much is Jayson Werth worth? About $10 million.
He’s the latest in what has been a parade of players cashing in this week. Reliever Chad Durbin has signed on for $1.6 million.
Earlier it was Ryan Madson getting a $12 million deal, Shane Victorino getting $3.125 million and pitcher Joe Blanton ringing the cash register for $5.475 million.
The Phils had eight players who were either restricted or unrestricted free agents file for salary arbitration. They have now settled with seven of them.
Only slugger Ryan Howard remains. It appears likely that, as they did last year, the slugger and the team will go to arbitration. Howard wants $18 million; the team is offering $14 million. He made $10 million last year.
Winning world championships is expensive. That’s the great thing about being a fan. It’s not our money. We urge the team to go ahead and do what it takes to sign the best players. Of course, eventually some of that cost will trickle down to the prices of tickets, concessions, T-shirts and everything else.
But remember that feeling as we watched that avalanche of red move down Broad Street last October.
Millions for free agents. Higher prices for tickets. More ads in the stadium and on broadcasts.
A world championship? Priceless.
Isn’t that right, Eagles fans?
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