Phillies Extend Lidge

Nice. Good for him. Glad he got a lot of money to pitch one inning every few games. So I guess this means they are more willing B.Myers now. So what would it take to get him to the O's? C.Bradford?

How is that a good deal for the Phillies? $12.5 million a year makes him the highest paid closer in baseball, and the guy comes in with no one on and pitches an inning a game. I cannot believe the stupidity of today's general managers.

"$12.5 million a year makes him the highest paid closer in baseball"

Rivera gets $15M a year.

Lidge has been pretty amazing so far, but it won't last. His ERA is too low for how many hits and walks he's giving up and he has yet to give up a HR yet. Citizen's Bank is the best HR park (or 2nd?) in the majors so he's going to give up some eventually. I guess this is how much money elite closers make now, but I don't think Lidge will be worth it.

Just better hope he doesn't face Pujols in the playoffs.

I understand why a team would want to spend this kind of money on a closer. It is one of the most demoralizing things to watch when leads continually get blown in the ninth inning. Having some kind of security there is worth it when you have struggled in that spot in the past. He hasn't blown a save this year so I wonder if he will be able to recover after he blows his first one. What happened after giving up that homer to Pujols kind of makes you think he can't put things in the past.

I wanted an extension but after hearing this I'm kind of weary.

What's nice, though, is it shows some sort of commitment to win and be willing to spend money.

Now what the hell happens to Myers? I can't imagine him being traded with his value so low.

"Lidge has been the best closer in baseball this year and its not really close."

Lidge has been great but there are plenty of relievers in the same class as him. 8 (Papelbon, Nathan, Soria, Rivera, Wood, Percival, Wagner & Rauch) entered the day with better WHIPs. Granted, Lidge has the best ERA of the bunch right now, but 2 ERs isn't exactly a wide margin.

I don't like this deal for reasons stated above; unless you're the Yankees or Red Sox playing without a fixed budget, $12.5MM per on a 75 inning guy isn't money wisely spent.

Brad Lidge is an elite RP. 2006 included, I don't buy this BBTN/SportsCenter nonsense that Pujols screwed up his head b.s., something was going on mechanically, underlying injury, luck whatever, and he was still K'ing people at a sick rate.

Great trade, great extension.

He K's 1.4 batters an inning, career.

He's earning 250k more a year than Joe Nathan, and is two years younger.

Will everyone get over "Albert". Brad Lidge has been great here in Philly and I for one am very glad to see the Phillies pay Retail for a pitcher finally. Hopefully they can trade for a real starter and pay for a real stating pitcher also.