The Phillies signed right handed starter Adam Eaton to a three year, $24 million deal. There’s a $9 million mutual option for a fourth year that could potentially make it a four year, $33 million deal.
Eaton was actually drafted by the Phillies way back in 1996 and since then he’s played for the Padres and the Rangers. Last season, he was pretty mediocre in 14 starts and his best year was probably 2003. He struck out 146 in 183 innings and he had a career best 4.08 ERA.
This is the new age of free agency. A guy like Eaton, who’s never thrown 200 innings in a season, goes for $8 million per a year. I don’t know if they overpaid but I have a feeling that this one might come back to haunt the Phillies, especially in the later years. Then again, it’s the going price. Danys Baez, a decent set up man, recently signed for over $6 million a year so $8 million for a starter isn’t all that bad.
