Phillies Rumors: Burrell, Moyer, Howard

Philly fans,

Would a Tim Wakefield-like deal be an ideal scenario for Jamie Moyer? He has pretty solid numbers and seems like a decent bet for next year.....

any thoughts?

It figures the Cubs would try to trade DeRosa. Wasn't he one of the only guys who actually hit in the playoffs?

And if I were the Phillies, I'd be concerned about clubhouse chemistry, especially after winning the WS, before adding a guy like Milton Bradley, tho he can hit for sure.

"It figures the Cubs would try to trade DeRosa. Wasn't he one of the only guys who actually hit in the playoffs?"

Who said they are trying to trade DeRosa? Read the post again. He brings back two draft picks after next year...so I don't see him going anywhere.

Let me start by saying that Pat Burrell is my favorite player (yes I know, strange).

As a Phillies fan, I want him back in town.

I have been thinking about it, and the team that fits him best.....is the Phillies. I know that they do not want to go long term with him, but perhaps he will eventually accept a 2 year deal with a 3rd year mutual option. That way he will stay in Philly until he is 34-35, then he can finish up his career as a DH in the AL.

Perhaps he can even get another ring if he stays.

The only way I could see DeRosa going is if the Cubs got a great deal. You can have Kouske!

Who ever wrote this article didn't mention it, so I will. What did the last NL World Champs do? The Cardinals haven't won made the postseason since winning the WS. They were under .500 the year after. They were in the postseason six out of seven years upon winning the WS. They won 5 division titles. Did they burn out? Did they get less hungry? I can understand with the '97 Marlins aftermath, but the Marlins really didn't sell off most of their team until later on. Where did the last three teams who appear in the World Series from the NL end up? All didn't make the postseason the next year. 2 of 3 were under .500. 5 out of the previous 7 World Champs from the NL didn't make the postseason the next season. And 3 of 5 of those teams didn't finish .500 the next season.

I don't know why some people have this mentality of think everyone should assume who's at top remains there. Probability tells otherwise. Has there base an NL team who's won a division title who's won more than one world series since 1983? No. The only team to do it were the Marlins. Ironically this is the Phillies were in the WS that year. The Phillies payroll eventually went up to 103 million last season. As mentioned it's projected that without Moyer & Eyre, the Phillies payroll is 115 payroll. Moyer will get some sort of raise. Say seven million? And Eyre will get at least 2 or 3. So we're talking about 124 or 125 million. Every Phillies fan could tell you the Phillies owner is cheap. The only pricey guy I can think of that they signed was Jim Thome who they traded later on. They probably planned that considering they drafted Howard. What wasn't mentioned here was Gillick is no longer their GM. He retired. This will be big. Ruben Amaro Jr. will do everything to please ownership. I'm sure they aren't very happy about rising the payroll at least 20 million. Why do they keep stalling on Howard? It doesn't make any sense if they plan on retaining him. His annual rate will only get higher due to inflation. Why not sign him long term? He'll get 15-18 million arbitration this off-season.

Is Brett Myers a dependable 2 starter for 162 games? Probably not. Is the 46 year old Moyer still reliable? Brad Lidge has had arm problems. Remember Carpenter with the Cards? Injuries do come around. They probably won't replace Burrell's production. The best they'll do is part time playing Rocco Baldelli. More realistically, Emil Brown or Jay Payton. That 2 year/22 million offer they made to Burrell was flirting. They know they aren't getting him back unless he concedes or can't get anything else out on the market. Some AL team will see value in him though so that's unlikely to happen. During most of Burrell's contract, they begged other teams to take him. They managed to pawn off Abreu. They don't want to be in that boat with PAt the Bat for 3 or 4 years. Plus the Dodgers, Mets and other NL teams who may need a LF too. Burrell's averaged nearly 30HR/100RBI the last 4 years. Without him, can their offense really keep up? Could you imagine how much of a mess it'd be with a platoon of Jenkins, Stairs and Bruntlett? I know what has already happened. I don't want to ruin the suprise for all of you. I will rub it even ungracious Phillies fan when there team is horrible again. The last time they were in the WS, they were under .500 the next 7 seasons. Than they averaged 86.5 wins the following 8 seasons after they traded Curt Shilling who was dominating in winning two World Series. They weren't willing to pay Schilling. You got to spend to win. Perhaps they would have been in the postseason or won another world series with him over Padilla? The Phillies got bad luck written all over them. They had their moment in the sun and it's already faded. Gillick gone? Burrell probably gone? Dark days are coming. That's their off-season outlook unless they change the luck of their city as a whole.

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