According to mlb.com, the Phillies refused to offer salary arbitration to relief pitchers Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre. The Phillies were not expected to offer either of the players arbitration.
Last year, Park collected $2.5 mil and Eyre made $2 mil. If the Phillies would have gone to salary arbitration with either player, chances are they would both have gotten a major salary increase. The Phillies still offered salary arbitration to Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz, Joe Blanton and four others.
Park started to the 2009 campaign as the Phillies fifth starter, but after faltering he was moved to the bullpen in favor of National League Rookie of the Year runner-up J.A. Happ. Park filled in very nicely in the bullpen, but he wants to be a starter once again.
Eyre who may have been the most valuable pitcher in the bullpen last season, will also become a free agent. In an emotional post-game interview after Game 6 of the 2009 World Series, Eyre told reporters that he was either coming back to the Phillies or he will retire. The Phillies recognize that Eyre would like to stay with the organization and they should be able to pay him close to what he made last year.
The team will definitely pursue both players during free agency, because they were so solid coming out of the bullpen. During this free agency period, Eyre must decide whether or not he wants to solely become a family man and Park must accept the fact that he is a good relief pitcher. The Phillies could really use their consistency in 2010, especially if Brad Lidge and the rest of the bullpen cannot return to the 2008 form that led them to a World Series title.
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