The Phillies are about to hold their third press conference in the last five days to announce a three-year contract with one of their core players.

Less than a week after hammering out similar deals with Joe Blanton and Shane Victorino, the Phils reached the finish line on a three-year, $8.85 million deal with catcher Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz.

The contract, which includes a club option for a fourth season, buys out the remaining three arbitration years Ruiz had.

The 31-year-old Ruiz hit .255 last season with a career-high nine home runs and 43 RBI in 107 games. Behind the plate, he threw out 15 of 76 potential basestealers (19.7%). Ruiz batted a team-best .341 during the 2009 playoffs.

Ruiz made $475,000 in 2009.

According to a report by CSNPhilly.com, the Phillies and Carlos Ruiz have reached a three-year, $9 million deal that is pending a physical.

The deal would be the third and final multi-year contract the Phils have hammered out with arbitration-eligible players in the last four days.

The contract won't be confirmed by the team until Ruiz takes a physical, which may not be until later this week. Ruiz hit .255 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs in 2009.

He's caught every inning of every playoff game in the last three seasons.

The Phils apparently weren't done with the deals after back to back press conferences with Joe Blanton and Shane Victorino.

Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com is reporting the Phils have signed veteran Jose Contreras to a one-year contract, pending a physical.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. kept his comments minimal, which isn't any different than most deals the team makes that are pending a physical.


"I can't really make any comment," Amaro said. "We've talked with the agent, but there's nothing to confirm."

If the deal does become official, it's likely that Contreras could enter spring training in much of the same fashion that Chan Ho Park was in a year ago. Contreras could compete for the fifth spot in the rotation or add bullpen depth.

Amaro admitted the team is looking to address both areas.

Contreras was 5-13 with a 5.42 ERA last year for the Chicago White Sox before getting traded to the Colorado Rockies in late August. Contreras, 38, was 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in seven games, including two starts. He pitched twice in the playoffs, giving up one run in two innings, while earning a hold.

Less than an hour after Joe Blanton's press conference was finished, a deal with one of the other two arbitration-eligible players appeared imminent. A team official said something could happen Friday.

According to two web sites, CSNPhilly.com and MLB.com, that something appears to be a contract extension for Shane Victorino.

According to both reports, the 29-year-old Victorino will finalize a three-year contract extension Friday. The deal would buy out the center fielder's last two year's of arbitration and one year for free agency.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed in either report.

When the two sides exchanged requested salaries for the arbitration process Tuesday, Victorino submitted $5.8 million and the Phils countered with $4.75 million. Victorino is scheduled to attend Jimmy Rollins’ wedding in the Grand Cayman Islands Saturday.

All the talk about how much Joe Blanton was requesting in arbitration and how much the Phillies were countering with is now pretty meaningless.

The Phils announced today that the two sides, almost $3 million apart in initial arbitration figures, have come to an agreement on a three-year, $24 million contract. Blanton will meet the media to talk about the deal later this afternoon.

The 29-year-old Blanton could have filed for free agency after the upcoming season.

Two days ago, on the day arbitration eligible players and teams submit salary requests, Blanton asked for $10.25 million while the Phils countered with $7.5 million.

Blanton was 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 31 regular season starts in 2009. He made $5.475 million last year.

Brad Lidge underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday. The procedure, performed by team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, puts the closer’s availability for Opening Day in jeopardy.

“The surgery went well and Brad is expected to begin his throwing program in 10 days,” head team athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said in a press release. “We’re not sure if he’ll be ready by Opening Day, but we don’t expect that he’ll be too far behind. This surgery was not directly related to any previous surgeries.”

“Any time a guy has an operation it’s a concern,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told the Daily Times. “But on a scale of 1-to-10, we see this as a 3. We’re not concerned enough to have it be a dramatic issue.”

More in Friday's Daily Times (and, of course, also on delcotimes.com).

The Phillies checked off another item on their offseason to-do list today, when they officially announced the signing of veteran reliever Danys Baez to a two-year, $5.25 million contract.

Baez adds back-end-of-the-bullpen experience to a returning group that includes Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero.

From the Phillies press release, issued at noon:

Baez, 32, went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 59 appearances for the Baltimore Orioles last season. He had a 2.92 ERA in 57 of his 59 appearances. Baez held opposing hitters to a .222 average, including .197 against right-handed hitters, and induced 137 ground balls, which was tied for fifth-most among American League relievers. In his final 19 games of the season, Baez posted a 3.06 ERA and a .190 opponents’ batting average.

“Danys brings both experience and success to our bullpen,” said Amaro. “He has played a variety of roles throughout his career and we felt he was an excellent fit for our staff.”

The Phils will introduce Baez at Citizens Bank Park this afternoon. Baez, who pitched for Charlie Manuel briefly in Cleveland, will wear No.55.