The Phillies avoided arbitration today, but not with either player that I wanted them too.  The team came to terms with Kyle Kendrick.  The Phillies will be paying him $3.585 mil.

"Ha, I'm still around!" Photo Credit- Steve Trapani

I have very definite opinions on Kyle Kendrick, and they are not good.  Nope, not even a little bit.  If you want to read my entire rant about him, go here.  You really should read it.  It’s quite funny actually, and I believe every word of it.

My question is, what exactly are they going to be paying him $3.585 mil to do what this year? Be on the depth chart?That’s an awful lot of money to spend on a swing man.

I know Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn’t always hand out the best contracts (Howard, Polanco, Ibanez, Papelbon), but this one just boggles my mind.  He’s not very good.  He has a career ERA of 4.41 (Baseball-Reference).  That’s ok, but isn’t there a kid in Lehigh Valley that could have done the job cheaper? And better?

In all fairness, he didn’t pitch bad last year.  His ERA was 3.22, but he gave up 1.1 hr/9.  Yeah, I would have been happy to see him non-tendered, but alas, he’s getting paid.

Now that you are done with this ridiculous that is KK, Ruben, can you please turn your attention to the more important manner?  Like the Cole Hamels extension?  Or Hunter Pence’s arbitration? Or what dinner is tonight?

P.S. Heather believes that Ruben keeps him around just to annoy me.  I think I’m starting to believe her.