Joe Blanton was next, as it turns out, having today signed a one-year deal worth $5.475 million. No picture, alas, of Joe, not even in an Oakland uni, so I took this picture of a Phanatic rubber duck. Blanton reminds me of a yellow ducky but I don't have one to photograph.Ryan Howard has elected to go to arbitration, seeking $18 million for 2009. The Phillies have countered with an offer of $14 million, still a hefty increase over the $10 million that Howard won in arbitration in 2008. Hard to say what will happen this year but the people who say Howard wants historic-type money are not kidding.
