UPDATE: The deal has now been announced by the team.
Thursday, 8:02 P.M.: A source is telling me that the Phillies and Shane Victorino have reached a deal on a three-year, $22 million contract. The team could announce it as early as tomorrow. Jim Salisbury had reported earlier this week that Victorino and the team were discussing a multi-year deal.
Victorino -- a Gold Glover who hit .292/.358/.445 last year -- made $3.125 million in 2009. Earlier this week he filed an arbitration request of $5.8 million, while the team offered $4.75 million.
If today’s Joe Blanton deal is any guide, the deal may very well be backloaded somewhat, thereby making his 2010 salary something closer to the figures that were exchanged. And of course, this deal would buy out one of his free agent years, so a bit of a bump above the arbitration figures is in order.
Assuming this done, that leaves Carlos Ruiz as the only remaining arbitration-eligible Phillie.