Shane Victorino Signing Latest Proof Nashville City Officials Are Spiking Their Tap Water

Okay, the Red Sox’ signing of former Phil Shane Victorino to a three-year, $39 million deal is more proof that something is going on in Nashville.

Something is happening at these Winter Meetings that is forcing general managers from around the league to literally flush money down the toilet.

What was once thought to be a buyer’s market for general managers has suddenly turned into a windfall for players and their agents.

Need proof?

RT @Ken_Rosenthal: "Sources: #Indians’ offer to Victorino was 4 yrs, $44 million" that is astounding
— MLB Perspectives (@MLBPerspectives) December 4, 2012

Four years and $44 million??? For Shane Victorino??? Were people conscious last season?

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
2003	22	SDP	36	83	73	8	11	2	0	0	4	7	7	17	.151	.232	.178	.410	14

2005	24	PHI	21	19	17	5	5	0	0	2	8	0	0	3	.294	.263	.647	.910	124
2006	25	PHI	153	462	415	70	119	19	8	6	46	4	24	54	.287	.346	.414	.760	91
2007	26	PHI	131	510	456	78	128	23	3	12	46	37	37	62	.281	.347	.423	.770	95
2008	27	PHI	146	627	570	102	167	30	8	14	58	36	45	69	.293	.352	.447	.799	107
2009	28	PHI	156	694	620	102	181	39	13	10	62	25	60	71	.292	.358	.445	.803	110
2010	29	PHI	147	648	587	84	152	26	10	18	69	34	53	79	.259	.327	.429	.756	101
2011	30	PHI	132	586	519	95	145	27	16	17	61	19	55	63	.279	.355	.491	.847	130
2012	31	TOT	154	666	595	72	152	29	7	11	55	39	53	80	.255	.321	.383	.704	91
2012	31	PHI	101	431	387	46	101	17	5	9	40	24	35	49	.261	.324	.401	.724	94
2012	31	LAD	53	235	208	26	51	12	2	2	15	15	18	31	.245	.316	.351	.667	85
9 Yrs	1076	4295	3852	616	1060	195	65	90	409	201	334	498	.275	.341	.430	.770	102
162 Game Avg.	162	647	580	93	160	29	10	14	62	30	50	75	.275	.341	.430	.770	102

PHI (8 yrs)	987	3977	3571	582	998	181	63	88	390	179	309	450	.279	.345	.439	.784	105
LAD (1 yr)	53	235	208	26	51	12	2	2	15	15	18	31	.245	.316	.351	.667	85
SDP (1 yr)	36	83	73	8	11	2	0	0	4	7	7	17	.151	.232	.178	.410	14

Look, I’ve always liked Shane. His 2008 postseason performance was one for the ages. He provided perhaps the two biggest hits in Phillies playoff history, the two-run shot against L.A. that tied Game 4 of the NLCS and his grand slam off C.C. Sabbathia in Game 2 of the NLDS against Milwaukee.

Looking forward to seeing Shane run head-first into Pesky Pole on a regular basis. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

But in 2012, Victorino had his worst season since he became a regular in 2006. He set career lows in batting average (.255), on base percentage (.321), slugging percentage (.383) and OPS (.704).

When the Phillies signed Victorino to a contract extension after the 2009 season, he was just 29 years old. The deal was for three years and $22 million.

The Red Sox have just signed Victorino for more money, after his worst season ever, in order to keep him for three seasons in which he’ll be 32, 33 and 34 years old.

That ain’t smart money.

Of course, Victorino was never really a serious option for the Phillies. Ruben Amaro seemed to have regarded Shane as a cheap back-up plan should their other options fall through.

They certainly could never have foreseen multiple teams fighting over him like a top 10 MVP candidate, throwing more money at him for his mid-30s years than he earned in his prime.

But that seems to be the trend this week at the Winter Meetings in Nashville. Teams are throwing gobs and gobs of money at players clearly not worth the cash they’re being given.

Thankfully, the Phillies have not been one of them yet.

There’s still time, though.

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