Mike Lieberthal agreed to a three-year $22.25M extension with the Phillies on Monday. This extension will keep Lieberthal in Philadelphia through the 2005 season and includes a team option for 2006. The Phillies guaranteed a 2003 option on his current contract at $7.25M, and he will make $7.5M in both 2004 and 2005 with a $7.5M club option for 2006. Ken Mandel of MLB.com reports the club will automatically pick up the option if Lieberthal reaches goals of "1,200 total at-bats over the next three years, 850 at-bats over the final two years of the contract or 475 ABs in the final year." Otherwise, the Phillies can choose to buy out the option year for $1.25M.

The 30-year-old Lieberthal has spent his entire career with the Phillies, who drafted him out of high school with the third overall pick in the first round of the 1990 draft. Unfortunately, while he managed an impressive season in 1999, injuries have hampered him throughout most of the rest of his career, leading to the AB incentives on the option year in this contract. Lieberthal went down for the season in mid-May of last year, causing the Phillies to prematurely advance catching prospect Johnny Estrada to the majors.

Considering he'd had all of 131 AAA AB at the time of his call-up, Estrada acquitted himself fairly well in the majors with 68 H, 15 2B, 8 HR, and a 16:32 BB:K in 298 AB for a .228 BA, .273 OBP, and .359 SLG. His return to AAA this season was logical as it should allow him to continue his development in a much lower pressure environment than the majors. However, there's not going to be much left for him to learn next season. In 393 AB the 26-year-old has 114 H, 26 2B, and 11 HR with a 25:46 BB:K and 1/1 SB% for a .290 BA, .335 OBP, and .440 SLG.

Philadelphia drafted Estrada out of California's Junior College of the Sequoias in the 17th round of the 1997 draft, so he too is fully homegrown. He doesn't have the upside of some younger prospects as he's already 26, and he also needs to work on his plate discipline. Nevertheless, his power skills are evident and he certainly appears ready to produce for the next few years during his peak. Despite management's protestations that they remain committed to Estrada, they should strongly consider trading him in the off-season for help elsewhere after committing to Lieberthal. However, Estrada should have one option remaining, so the organization could easily decide to hoard him in AAA as insurance for Lieberthal.

I realize that many people will applaud the Philadelphia for paying out to retain their homemade All-Star, but this extension was not the wisest course of action for the franchise. Lieberthal will have difficulty earning his salary even if healthy, and the team possesses an inexpensive replacement in Estrada, who is ready to fill Lieberthal's shoes next season and probably capable of out-performing him.

The Phillies have made a few changes to their pitching staff over the past two months in addition to the promotion of Brett Myers. After spraining his knee in late May, Carlos Silva spent a short time on the DL in early June. Silva's trip to the disabled list opened up a roster spot for Robert Person's return from his first stint on the disabled list. Person retuned to the DL at the time of Brett Myers' promotion and has since undergone likely season-ending surgery to repair a small tear in his shoulder. While he continues to suffer from an inflamed elbow, there's reportedly no structural damage in that joint. He was worked quite hard last season, so this development is unsurprising.

Joe Roa, who filled Person's roster spot, replaced Jose Santiago on the roster and in the pen for almost a month before joining the rotation. Aside from his lack of dominance, Roa's pitched fairly well as a starter, allowing few baserunners. Santiago pitched well below expectations before his demotion, allowing 47 H and 5 HR in 39 IP with a 26:14 K:BB for a 7.15 ERA.

When Silva rejoined the team in mid-June, Philadelphia demoted Hector Mercado. Although the Phillies recalled Mercado when they demoted Doug Nickle after Nickle's brief stay in majors, Mercado is now back in the minors. Coincidentally, the Phillies dealt Nickle to the Cardinals in the Rolen deal in which they acquired Mike Timlin, causing them to demote Mercado to clear room on the roster. Nickle had joined the team in late June to fill the roster spot of Ricky Bottalico, who went on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Bottalico underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum shortly after hitting the DL.

Thankfully the Phillies appear ready to end Brandon Duckworth's short exile from the starting rotation. Philadelphia felt Duckworth was struggling with his mechanics and moved him to the bullpen less than two weeks ago. The team now feels he's straightened out the problems that were hurting his performance. Dave Coggin made one spot start while Duckworth was in the pen and will now return to relief. However the Phillies might ask Coggin to spend some time starting in winter ball.