There is no other good explanation for the Phillies signing Raul Ibanez to a 3 year deal for $30 million today, unless Burrell’s demands were wildly out of touch with the market for his services.

Look, I’m willing to give Ruben Amaro Jr. the benefit of the doubt on some level, especially since Pat Gillick’s fingerprints are probably all over this deal since Ibanez played in Seattle and Gillick is reported to be enamored with him.

But I really need someone to explain the logic to me on a baseball level. Amaro is not a sabermetrician – he’s said so himself – but I have to figure he respects the notion that a balanced lineup makes sound baseball sense.

Here are my reasons against this deal:

1. Age – Burrell is 4.5 years younger than Ibanez. That is a huge difference. If Pat had been offered a 3 year deal, he’d be younger than Ibanez is today by 18 months. Should we really expect Ibanez’s years at ages 37, 38 and 39 to be better than Burrell’s 32, 33, and 34?
2. Ibanez makes it even easier for the Phillies to be shut down by a lefty specialist in the late innings. Ibanez may have batted .305 against lefties in 2008, but he batted a less impressive .256 in 2007 and his career avg. against lefties is .268.
3. Ibanez adds nothing extra on defense. Their defensive stats are negligible.
4. Ibanez adds little extra on the basepaths. Ibanez has 4 stolen bases in his last 3 years. Burrell had none. Ibanez averaged a double every 14 at bats in 2008. Burrell averaged a double in every 16 ABs.
5. Because Charlie thought Burrell should be coming back. I’m more than willing to trust his baseball instincts over Ruben Amaro Jr.’s since he penciled Burrell’s name into the starting lineup 150 times per year.

Burrell did not have an outstanding 2008, and would have by no means returned without baggage. But I can’t help but think there is more to all of this. There was never even a shred of interest from the Phillies side regarding Burrell, and I doubt the report around the World Series that they ever even offered him a deal.

I was perusing Beerleaguer last night and one of the commenters suggested it was personal. I wonder as well. Ibanez’s money is probably attractive on some level in terms of the per year average. But I doubt that Burrell even had an opportunity to submit something lower since the market seemed to sour on the B-level OFs.

I admit that some of this is emotional, but as a fan, I can’t help but allow that to play a role in how I feel about this deal. Ibanez’s signing conjurs up a sense of loss for me; as we close the book on a decade long relationship with Burrell. Having Burrell not receive his World Series ring as an active Phillie will be strange to say the least.

There will be time to get excited about what Ibanez can bring to the Phillies, but that is a discussion for another day.

And another thing….losing the draft pick sucks.