Jan 6th 2009 12:02AM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
The World Champions — I write that in every Phillies post just to pander to the Philly Phanatics, is it working? — have gone about their business this offseason without really altering their payroll. Sure, they signed Raul Ibanez, but that was teamed with the departure of Pat Burrell. Ibanez is going to make less per season than Burrell was making. They also re-upped with Jamie Moyer for two years in a moderate, at most, deal.

With arbitration season beginning today, they are about to take on a significant payroll increase. Players can now file for arbitration, and I’m guessing Cole Hamels — who only made $400,000 last season — will be filing. You know Ryan Howard, again, will. All told, the Phillies are likely to have eight players file.

Whether they decide to sign the players before arbitration hearings or not, the World Champs’ front office better get that checkbook out, because they are going to pay for these guys. Let’s look at each, briefly.Continue Reading