Werth is now officially a former Phillie and current foe.


It wasn't about winning a championship. Apparently, it wasn't about winning anything. When Jayson Werth put his name on a contract from the Washington Nationals for seven years and $126 million ($18 million per season), it became painfully obvious what is important to Werth.

Money. Money, money, and more money.

Werth was out to make every penny he could, and I suppose he deserves some credit in that he did just that. He parlayed three above-average seasons into a contract that will overpay him for the rest of his career.

I understand Werth's side of the deal. He wanted the money. But what could the Nationals be thinking? They took a guy who followed Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the Philadelphia Phillies' five hole and plan to make him their center-piece.

Good luck to them. They're going to need it.

Werth has proven he's not a clutch hitter. His average with runners in scoring position was atrocious. If he was ever up when it counted, he was usually flying out to shallow outfield, hitting it up the elevator shaft, or striking out.

Don't get me wrong, he was a great outfielder with one hell of an arm and is clearly a smart player. He was very good taking over as the premiere right-handed power bat once Pat Burrell left. But what he's not is a franchise player.

He's worth (maybe) $11-13 million per season in exactly the role the Phillies had him. With anything more on his shoulders, he'll likely fall apart.

But at least we'll get to watch Roy Halladay strike him out game after game and actually be glad to see his ridiculous hair and beard -- now highly overpaid and ridiculous hair and beard -- heading back to the dugout.