Posted by Erik Seybold.
The Flyin' Hawaiian has spoken and he has made it clear what he wants. Phillies' centerfielder Shane Victorino is asking for a five-year contract extension with the Phillies, and the Phillies only.
The three-time Gold Glover's three-year, $22 million deal is up after this season and the 31 year-old Victorino wants another deal with the Phillies. According to sources, Victorino's representatives and Phillies representatives have had recent discussions, but "we're not close".
Victorino has spent no time talking about possibly playing in another uniform.
“I love this place,” he said. “This is the place that gave me my chance. I’m a World Series champion in this city. That’s stuff that forever will be remembered. I want to be here.”
Victorino will be 32 at the end of the season and he believes he has what it takes for another five years.
Victorino is looking for a long-term deal to stay in the city he has played for since 2005.
Although he is not talking money numbers right now, it is estimated that Victorino is looking somewhere in the $50-60 million range.
“I’ll be 32 on the market,” he said. “I can go another five years. I would think even more. I want to go until I’m 40." he said. "I’d like five years, yeah. Why wouldn’t I? I signed for three. Why wouldn’t I want the next one to be longer?"
Victorino went on to talk about what the open market looks like for his future.
“My agents say I can get a five-year deal on the market. Why not trust them?” he said.
Along with the security of money, Victorino has also stated that he wants to play for a legit contender.
“But I’m also not going to say, ‘Well, give me a three-year deal and I’m going to sign here,’" he said. "I want to get it done. At the same time, I want market value."
The Phillies may be looking to lock up Victorino, but for how much and for how long is a mystery. With Cole Hamels' contract running up at the end of the year, it seems like the Phillies may be prioritizing re-signing Hamels before any talks with Victorino get underway.
“I understand,” Victorino said. “Why wouldn’t you want to get the best left-handed free agent next year and try to lock him up?”
From the looks of it, it could cost the Phillies $20 million+ to keep Hamels from testing the free-agent market at the end of the season. But, with a large deal like that, the Phillies may be pressing against the luxury-tax threshold ($178 million this year and next and $189 million in 2014) in the upcoming seasons.
If that is the case, a possible $50-60 million deal over five years may just not be happening.
“We’re all in the same boat,” he said. “You’re a team where payroll is becoming a big topic. You look at the great players you have here, and if you have great players you’ve got to spend the money in that regard. Do I understand the situation we could all be in? Absolutely.”
Victorino batted for a .279 avg., while hitting 17 home runs, 16 league-leading triples, knocking in 61 RBI, and stealing 19 bases in 2011. Victorino was also elected to his second career All-Star game last season.
If the Phillies are going to be doing business with the Flyin' Hawaiian, it seems likely that the City of Philly may be the dealbreaker for Victorino and the Phillies.
ALL quotes courtesy of CSN's Jim Salisbury.
Erik Seybold is a Contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.
