The Phillies are prioritizing starting pitching depth this trade deadline, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter). They are looking to add a middle-of-the-rotation starter, probably someone better than Jeremy Guthrie. Few available starters short of Cliff Lee– the Phillies' biggest 2009 acquisition- and Roy Oswalt are definitively better than Guthrie, but arms like Fausto Carmona, Edwin Jackson and Brett Myers could be fits – at least in theory.
It seems unlikely that the D'Backs would trade Jackson in the near future, since he no-hit the Rays over the weekend. Myers is having an excellent season in Houston, but there's no guarantee that Ruben Amaro Jr. would be interested in bringing him back to Philadelphia so soon after the sides parted ways.
Another former Phillie, Pedro Martinez, plans to pitch in 2010, but he wouldn't be ready for major league action without weeks in the minor leagues. The Phillies maintain that they're not close to bringing Pedro back.
Roy Halladay has been one of the best pitchers in the National League, Cole Hamels has pitched well, though he has been homer-prone and Jamie Moyer has been reliable. Joe Blanton pitched well against the Twins and Indians in his last two starts, but he and Kyle Kendrick have been Charlie Manuel's least reliable starters in 2010.
Peter Gammons keeps bringing up Ben Sheets and the Phillies as well.
Did you read this somewhere or hear it on MLB Network? I don’t get the channel where I live. If you read it, can you send the link?
I wonder how good they’d be with a guy like Cliff Lee. Geez, I mean, I bet once they got ahold of a pitcher like that they’d ride him to a World Series title and never let go. (ahem)
Hmm….certainly not implied here, but perhaps this means the Mets could have some competition for Ted Lilly from within the division.
I read somewhere that Charlie and Ted Lilly are friends…so it could be a possibility.
Don’t forget that the Phillies will be getting J.A. Happ back soon as well. If he can be anywhere close to the pitcher he was in 2009, they’ll be in good shape. If Blanton can figure it out, or Kendrick can be consistent with mediocrity, the Phillies rotation should be okay.
Unless they acquire a legitimate #3 starter like Brett Myers, then there is no need for them to add anyone. they already have the Jeremy Guthries of the world in Kendrick and Blanton. Happ is going to be back by August, and Moyer, Halladay, and Hamels have all been outstanding. I really dont even see the need to add another arm.
Hey stop dissing Guthrie! How are we supposed to get quality talent back in trade if you keep knocking him?
Mmmm. You’re not.
Myers? LOL
Yes, Brett Myers. The Brett Myers who has gone at least 6 innings in every one of his starts this year and has an ERA of 3.20… that Brett Myers.
also the Brett Myers who has an ERA that’s 1 point higher on the road than in Houston? (Although also has a WHIP of 1.28 vs. the 1.44 at home). I can’t figure out if Myers is just the same mediocre pitcher or just really suited for pitching in Minute Maid park…
im willing to say he is a better pitcher. he is healthy for the first time in 2 years and the Astros arent trying to make him something he isnt. The phillies kept making him try to throw a change up which he just couldnt do. now he is fastball, slider, curveball and having a bunch of success.and also Minute Maid park is no easy park to pitch it, center field is like 430 but the corners are pretty short. so that counts for something.
Myers is pitching with no pressure on a terrible team. Bring him back to Philly and you’ll see the same erratic pitcher all over again. No question that help is needed (one great starter and 4 question marks won’t win you a championship), but Myers isn’t the answer. If we can somehow rectify the mistake of letting Lee go by getting him back, that would be by far the best option….
Myers is pitching with no pressure on a terrible team. Bring him back to Philly and you’ll see the same erratic pitcher all over again. No question that help is needed (one great starter and 4 question marks won’t win you a championship), but Myers isn’t the answer. If we can somehow rectify the mistake of letting Lee go by getting him back, that would be by far the best option….
im willing to say he is a better pitcher. he is healthy for the first time in 2 years and the Astros arent trying to make him something he isnt. The phillies kept making him try to throw a change up which he just couldnt do. now he is fastball, slider, curveball and having a bunch of success.and also Minute Maid park is no easy park to pitch it, center field is like 430 but the corners are pretty short. so that counts for something.
also the Brett Myers who has an ERA that’s 1 point higher on the road than in Houston? (Although also has a WHIP of 1.28 vs. the 1.44 at home). I can’t figure out if Myers is just the same mediocre pitcher or just really suited for pitching in Minute Maid park…
I think they should trade Werth for Lee straight up, bring Dominic Brown up, and see what kind of magic happens.
is there a team in MBL that i NOT prioritizing starting pitching?
is there a team in MBL that is NOT prioritizing starting pitching?
i think the phils should trade for lee. myers is ok, but remember last year, cliff lee leadin the phils to the world series. he brought the only 2 wins in the world series. imagin have the #1 bein Roy Halladay, #2 bein Cliff Lee, #3 bein Cole Hamels, #4 (in august) J.A. Happ #5 Pedro Martinez. That is a pretty stacked rotation.
i think the phils should trade for lee. myers is ok, but remember last year, cliff lee leadin the phils to the world series. he brought the only 2 wins in the world series. imagin have the #1 bein Roy Halladay, #2 bein Cliff Lee, #3 bein Cole Hamels, #4 (in august) J.A. Happ #5 Pedro Martinez. That is a pretty stacked rotation.
i think the phils should trade for lee. myers is ok, but remember last year, cliff lee leadin the phils to the world series. he brought the only 2 wins in the world series. imagin have the #1 bein Roy Halladay, #2 bein Cliff Lee, #3 bein Cole Hamels, #4 (in august) J.A. Happ #5 Pedro Martinez. That is a pretty stacked rotation.
i think the phils should trade for lee. myers is ok, but remember last year, cliff lee leadin the phils to the world series. he brought the only 2 wins in the world series. imagin have the #1 bein Roy Halladay, #2 bein Cliff Lee, #3 bein Cole Hamels, #4 (in august) J.A. Happ #5 Pedro Martinez. That is a pretty stacked rotation.