While the world waits for Rod Blagojevich to have his Nixon moment, and Sam Zell worries about what might be on tape regarding his editorial board, the Phillies signed Raul Ibanez to a 3 year, $30 million contract.

Where this helps the Cubs is in their pursuit of a new right fielder. The candidates are to be down to Bobby Abreu and Milton Bradley. Neither one of these guys is a guy you want long term. Even three years may be too long for these guys as Abreu is too old and Bradley is too insane.

So, can you get these guys for less than 3 years? Sure, but you just have to pay more per year. A contract offer of $12 million per year for 2 years probably gets it done. Three years at $10 million per year has a present value of only $4.9 million more than 2 years at $12 million. The risk in a 2 year deal for Abreu and Bradley is that they could not get a contract in 2011 for $4.9 million.

That seems like a reasonable risk for either player.