Rewind to spring training, when the reports of Jayson Werth lighting up Clearwater, FL was the talk of the town. How the emerging superstar needed to be resigned, and that the Phillies brass needed to make a move soon, because a player like Werth was only going to get more expensive during the season.
A key piece to the Phillies success over the past 3 seasons, Werth has evolved in dramatic fashion. Going from platoon player with Geoff Jenkins in 2007, to unsung hero and underrated lynch pin in the 2008 World Series victory, to bona fide All Star in 2009.
Over the past 3 seasons, Werth has ranked eighth among major league right handed batters in home runs with 85, 10th in on-base percentage with an average of .375 and 11th in on-base plus slugging percentage with .885.
Werth has become a star in Philadelphia, and expects to be paid like it.
Throughout this season Werth has been seen as a gamebreaker, a superstar, and a hero numerous times. He had provided exceptional streaks of play at the beginning and end of this current season. From jaw dropping throws from right field to home in early April, to helping cement the Phils lead in the division in September, Werth has certainly put his stamp on the beginning and end of this season.
However, aside from his heroic bookend streaks, Werth has been the goat as well, Going through two long cold streaks in the middle of the season, that were only segmented by mediocre play. It seemed that by mid-season those who were so quick to say that we need to re-sign Werth were now debating how much we could get for him.
That’s the problem when you become a star, along with praise and acclaim, comes a bigger target on your back if you falter.
Last weekend, after blasting a walk-off homerun in a come from behind victory against the Nationals, Werth signed with agent Scott Boras, making a clear statement that this is his curtain call in red pinstripes.
In a season highlighted by polarizing victories, hot streaks and acquisitions, and low lighted by tough losses, injuries and cold snaps, the Phillies have overcome them all, and they will overcome the loss of their star outfielder as well.
However one thing is clear, no matter if he is playing hero or goat, Jayson Werth is a star, and will get paid like it soon.
I really thought the Phils had a shot of re-signing Werth to a 3 year – $35 Milllion Deal..
But now that he has signed with Agent Boras, he will be in at least that $15 Million per year and seekeing a 5 year deal for $75 Million.
I see the Boston Red Sox and possibly the Mets,Nationals & Anaheim making a strong run after him and you can never count out the Yankees…
I don’t see the other usual big-spenders like the Cubs/Dodgers talking to him for they have too many financial issues and simply can’t afford him in thier current state of ownership issues..
The only way I see the Phils retaining him would be to move/trade S Victorino, shift Werth to Center and have D Brown up in Right Field for next season but I don’t see Phils offering more than a 3 Year Deal to Werth in that $10-$12 per season range.