The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Monday that they had exercised catcher Carlos Ruiz's contract option for next season. After experiencing a career year in 2012, the club decided it was in their best interest to pay Ruiz $5 million in 2013 to keep behind the plate.

Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly believes the decision was a 'no-brainer' for the front office. Coming off a season where the 33-year-old catcher hit .325 with 16 homers, 68 RBIs and a .934 OPS, it's tough to disagree with this logic. The Phillies have multiple holes on their roster to address following their dealings in July and August, and solidifying the spot behind the plate seems like a good idea for GM Ruben Amaro Jr.

In September, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. described picking up Ruiz' option as "a formality" that would happen after the World Series.

Look for the hot stove rumors to start swirling in the coming weeks as teams begin preparing for what should be a very busy offseason. The Phillies always seem to be involved with the big-name free agents, and they'll have money to spend this winter.