Phillies beat reporter Todd Zolecki reported a few hours ago what everyone basically knew: Carlos Ruiz was signed to a 3 year contract earlier today, pending a physical.
The deal is apparently for $8.85 million over three years with a fourth year option for $5 millions.
With the strides Ruiz has made in the past two years, he was due for a major raise. After making $475,00 in 2009, I’d say this is would qualify as a major raise.
Chooch has become a solid leader of the pitching staff behind the plate with his calling of the game and has also become one of the top defensive catchers in the league. He gets to almost every ball in the dirt and with a pitcher like Brad Lidge at the back end, that blocking ability is huge. Lidge has to have confidence to throw anything and Chooch gives him that ability.
With no major league catching prospects in the Phillies’ system, this was a much needed signing. Ruiz is the catcher they’re pinning their hopes on for the next three years. That should give them time to draft and develop a new catcher to take over at that point.
Brian Schneider was signed this offseason, but this signing just reaffirms that this is Chooch’s spot. Schneider is a good catcher, but he is a backup at this point in his career.
At the very least, this just gives us even more chances to see Chooch get his ice cream.
