PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Phillies Monday inked veteran catcher Mike Lieberthal, whose power can sometimes be devastating, to a lucrative contract extension.
Lieberthal already was earning $7 million this season, and is quickly approaching the 500 plate appearances needed to vest a $7.25 salary for 2003. The extension will override that option.
The 6-0, 195-pounder has rapidly returned to his All-Star form of 1999, when he hit .300 with 31 home runs. He missed most of the 2001 season after tearing the three major ligaments in his right knee in a game against Arizona.
He was slow to recover this season and was hitting just .239 entering play June 20, the one-year anniversary of his surgery.
Manager Larry Bowa and others have said all along that it takes almost a full year to recover from such an injury.
Lieberthal had two hits June 20 and hasn't looked back. Overall, he's hitting .292 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI, with half of the homers coming in a 12-game stretch in which he hit .388 (19-for-49).
