Another day, another contract for a free-agent outfielder not given out by the Phillies. This time, it was the Boston Red Sox who got theirs, when they inked ex-Phillie Shane Victorino to a three-year deal.
The 32-year-old former Phil, who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at this year's trade deadline, didn't do himself any favors in his contract year, thanks to a line of .255/.321/.383 with 11 homers between Philly and L.A.
That didn't stop the Red Sox from signing the switch-hitter to a three-year deal worth $39 million. While he spent the better part of the last five years patrolling center, the move to Boston will likely result in Victorino shifting to right field to accommodate Jacoby Ellsbury in center.
It's a bit more than most thought that Victorino would have received, considering that both Angel Pagan and B.J. Upton were considered to be better, in terms of overall value. Pagan, who just re-upped with the San Francisco Giants, will earn $3 million less annually than Victorino, while Upton will earn $2 million more with the Atlanta Braves.
What does this mean for the Phillies? Not too much, actually. Although the market for outfielders got a little bit smaller, the odds were long that the Victorino would have returned to the Phillies. He was a backup plan for the backup plan for the backup plan, so it's not like GM Ruben Amaro Jr. missed out on anything (certainly not at that price), and it's not as if this signing is going to drive up the going rate for the remaining outfielders.
And aside from Josh Hamilton and Michael Bourn, it's slim pickings. Nyjer Morgan and Andres Torres are both options, but neither offer much by way of offense. Unless the Phillies can work out a trade, it's looking like it might be John Mayberry Jr. manning center in 2013.
