Ibanez and Phillies finalize $31.5M, 3-year contract

[December 17, 2008]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Outfielder Raul Ibanez and the Philadelphia Phillies have finalized a $31.5 million, three-year contract.

The deal, agreed to on Friday, was subject to the physical and was announced Tuesday. Ibanez will take over in left from Pat Burrell, who became a free agent.

The 36-year-old Ibanez hit .293 last season with 43 doubles, 23 home runs and 110 RBIs with the Seattle Mariners. Ibanez adds yet another left-handed bat to the Phillies lineup behind Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

Ibanez has a .286 career average with 182 home runs and 794 RBIs for the Mariners and Kansas City Royals. He gets a $2 million signing bonus, payable this year, a $6.5 million salary next season and $11.5 million each in 2010 and 2011.

[Associated Press]

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