The Phillies announced on December 16, 2008 that they had signed outfielder Raúl Ibáñez to a 3-year, $31.5 million deal, replacing Burrell in the Philadelphia Phillies' outfield. After playing for the Phillies for his entire major league career (2000–2008), it was announced that Burrell and the Tampa Bay Rays had reached a 2-year, $16 million deal on January 5, 2009 making Burrell the Rays' designated hitter.