Earlier this week, the Phillies made sure Ryan Madson wouldn't test the free agent market after this season when they agreed to a three-year contract with the reliever.

The Phils have apparently done the same thing with outfielder Jayson Werth.

According to multiple reports, Werth avoided arbitration by signing a two-year, $10 million contract.

Werth, who hit .273 with 24 home runs, 67 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 134 games last season, could have filed for free agency at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Instead, he's on board for two more years, meaning every player in the likely Opening Day lineup, except Pedro Feliz, is signed through 2010.

In addition to locking up Werth, the Phils avoided arbitration with Chad Durbin, signing the versatile, right-handed reliever to a one-year, $1.635 million pact. Durbin was 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA in in 87 2/3 innings last season.

About 24 hours ago when arbitration-eligible players and teams showed their hands in the form of salary figures, Durbin asked for $1.95 million while the team was offering $1.35 million.

When the Phils and Werth exchanged figures, Werth asked for $4 million while the team countered with $3 million. The two sides apparently decided a two-year deal, which will reportedly pay Werth $3 million this year and $7 million in 2010, was a fair way to meet in the middle.

The Phils have now taken care of seven of the eight players who filed for arbitration last week. Only Ryan Howard (asking for $18 million while the team is offering $14 million) remains.

Howard and the Phillies, who had their salary debate settled by an arbitrator last year, are likely headed down that path once again.

The Phillies and slugging first baseman Ryan Howard are likely to butt heads at the arbitration table again next month.

Why? The two sides are further apart this year then they were at this time last year in determining what the former MVP should be paid.

Today was the deadline for arbitration eligible players and teams to submit salary figures. Howard's camp is asking for $18 million; the Phillies are offering $14 million.

Last winter, the first year Howard was eligible for arbitration, he asked for $10 million while the team offered $7 million. The case went to an arbitrator, who ruled in favor of Howard.

Howard, who led all major league players in home runs (48) and RBIs (146) last season, submitted the third-highest figure in a salary arbitration case since the process began in 1974.

Roger Clemens set the record when he asked for $22 million from the Houston Astros in 2005. Four years earlier, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter submitted a claim for $18.5 million.

While the saga with Howard will likely continue, the Phillies took care of two other arbitration-eligible players. They came to one-year agreements with Joe Blanton ($5.475) and with Shane Victorino ($3.125).

Like Howard, two others remain unsettled.

Jayson Werth requested $4 million, while the Phils countered with $3 million. Chad Durbin submitted $1.95 million, the Phils are offering $1.35 million.

The Phillies had their hands full less than a week ago, when eight players filed for arbitration. No other team had as many players file.

But, one by one, the Phils have taken care of business. On Tuesday, when they finalized a three-year deal with Ryan Madson, the Phillies announced they also came to a one-year agreement with center fielder Shane Victorino.

The 28-year-old Victorino, who led the team by batting .293 last season, will earn $3.125 million in 2009.

In the last five days, the Phils have come to terms with Victorino, Madson, Cole Hamels and Greg Dobbs. General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he believed the team could finish off more of the arbitration eligible players "within the next 24 hours."

The rest of the "arbitration eight" are starter Joe Blanton, reliever Chad Durbin, right fielder Jayson Werth and first baseman/former MVP Ryan Howard.

Players and teams will exchange salary figures at some point today. If the two sides can't come to an agreement, the cases will be decided by an independent arbitrator next month.

Even if the Phillies come to terms with Blanton, Durbin and Werth, don't be shocked it Howard takes the team to the arbitration table again. His contract status went that route last year, when he won a record $10 million.

One day after the Phillies made their three-year agreement with ace Cole Hamels official, they've apparently come to a similar accord with their setup man.

According to numerous reports, the team has reached a three-year, $12 million deal with right-hander Ryan Madson. The deal is a carbon copy of the contract the Phils signed left-hander J.C. Romero to last winter.

The only surprising thing about this deal -- Madson's agent is the infamous Scott Boras and the reliever is heading into a "walk year." Boras nearly never allows his clients to sign an extension when their less than 12 months away from filing for free agency.

But Madson, like a good number of the Phillies, enjoys playing in Philadelphia. During the NLDS in Milwaukee, Madson and his wife were talking to a few reporters about moving into a house in suburban PA.

If buying real estate in the area that close to his possible free agent wasn't a sign he wanted to stay, I'm not sure what was...

The Phillies have apparently crossed one very important name off their arbitration to-do list.

The team has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $20.5 million deal with World Series MVP Cole Hamels.

The story is still developing - the team may not officially announce the deal until tomorrow - but this looks as good as done. Look for more in your Sunday edition of the Times.

I was watching a Royals vs. Orioles game from 1990 on ESPN Classic (I was curious why the game was on - did something happen in that ordinary April game I wasn't aware of?) when this piece of news flashed across the bottom line:

Phils pitcher Romero suspended 50 games

I'm still trying to piece this together, but here's the full report from ESPN's Peter Gammons.

Pat Burrell wanted to play for a winner.

So after the World Series champion Phillies passed on bringing him back, it appears he's signed on to play for the World Series runner-up Rays.

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, Burrell and Tampa Bay have agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal.