The Phillies have extended center field energizer Shane Victorino to a three-year deal worth $22 million. A noon press conference was held to announce the deal. Ruben Amaro, Jr. called Victorino, who was twice a Rule Five player, a "classic over-achiever" who has " become a core player" with the Phillies. It's true, too. Victorino has made himself as much a part of the core as Rollins, Utley, and Howard.
Amaro and Victorino both mentioned that they hoped to be celebrating another such contract in future. Victorino said that for his part he wanted to finish his career in Philadelphia, that he loved the city, the fans, the organization, and loved his team. Like Joe Blanton yesterday, he said that money and security were good but really it was the chance to win that was essential. He thinks that the Phillies have that chance for at least the next three years and, he hopes, for many more to follow.
Asked how the Phillies became interested in Victorino in the first place, Amaro said they had seen him with the Dodgers but he really got on their radar playing winter ball down in Maracaibo, Venezuela, one year. Tomas (the pieman) Perez played with Victorino and recommended him to Amaro's father.
Victorino, who got married this offseason, is headed for the Cayman Islands, where Jimmy Rollins will get married tomorrow.
