The World Series champion Phillies have found their replacement for departing left fielder Pat Burrell. Free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez has reached preliminary agreement with the Phillies on a three-year, $30 million contract, according to major-league sources.
The deal, pending a physical, was reached early Friday morning at the winter meetings in Las Vegas. Phillies executives and Ibanez’s agents stayed an extra day to complete the contract.
The Mets, Cubs, Nationals and Angels also were interested in Ibanez, who batted .293 with 23 homers and 110 RBIs last season for the Mariners while playing his home games at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.
The Phillies’ preference was for a right-handed hitter to go with their two left-handed sluggers, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Ibanez, 36, is a left-handed hitter, but actually hit left-handers better than righties last season.
His free-agent value seemed to diminish after his previous team, the Mariners, offered him salary arbitration, thus forcing any team that signed him to forfeit a first-round draft pick.
Ibanez’s age also figured to be an obstacle in the open market; few players in their late 30s receive three-year contracts. However, Ibanez has averaged 26 homers and 113 RBIs the past three seasons, and teams value his professionalism and character.