Victorino Tops Salary Arbitration List

The Flyin' Hawaiian and three other Phillies players can file for salary arbitration, starting today.

Outfielder Shane Victorino, catcher Carlos Ruiz, and pitchers Joe Blanton and Chad Durbin all got contract offers from the Phillies last month. If both sides don't see eye-to-eye on the terms, players can take their cases to arbitration.

The team isn't likely to sign any of them to long-term extensions, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, but Victorino stands to get the biggest pay raise.

The All-Star centerfielder made $3.1 million last season.

That makes catcher Ruiz' paycheck look paltry. He made $475,000 last year, according to the Inky. The minimum salary for players in 2009 was $400,000.

After batting .255 with a .355 on-base percentage while knocking nine homers and 43 RBI in the regular season Ruiz should be looking at a raise. Chooch should be seeing a nice pay raise as well if you add in his career postseason averages (.303/.420) and career .994 fielding percentage behind the plate.

Pitcher Joe Blanton made $5.5 million last year and the Phils paid Chad Durbin $1.6 million.

Historically, nine out of 10 players who file for arbitration reach contract agreements before their hearing, according to MLBPlayers.com. The filing deadline for salary arbitration is Jan. 15.

The team and players would then exchange figures on Jan. 19. Arbitration hearings start on Feb 1.

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