Here are a handful of items out of the AL and NL East …
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson cites three different sources in reporting that Wally Backman, who currently manages in the Mets minor league system, was never offered a position with the Nationals' Major League club.
- Backman told Ed Randall of New York's WFAN radio that he will remain in the organization rather than accepting a position on another team's Major League staff, according to MetsBlog. Backman interviewed for the Mets' managerial vacancy before it went to Terry Collins last year.
- The Red Sox are not expected to interview former Diamondbacks skipper A.J. Hinch for their managerial vacancy, a source familiar with the situation tells Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Hinch is currently vice president of pro scouting for the Padres.
- The Rays are unlikely to make quick decisions on whether to re-sign free agents Johnny Damon and first baseman Casey Kotchman, writes Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. Tampa will look to improve its offense, according to Topkin, but that won't be easy without detracting from its deep well of pitching talent, which it won't want to do. Andrew Friedman will likely do most of his roster shuffling via trade, writes Topkin.
- As their core position players are getting older and dealing with injuries, the Phillies' window of opportunity may be closing, opines Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. One talent evaluator told Brookover that the Phillies should let Jimmy Rollins walk in free agency. "It might be time to find out about a guy like Freddy Galvis," the scout said. "I saw him this year and he really is improving. I don't know if he's ready to be an everyday player in the big leagues, but I just think they need to get younger."
- Former Yankees pitching prospect Brandon Weeden, now 28, has resurfaced as the starting quarterback of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, writes Tom Spousta of the New York Times (cap tip to Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues). Weeden was a second-round pick of the Yanks in 2002 (a compensatory selection for Tino Martinez signing with the Cardinals), but he washed out of baseball by 2007 due to injuries and ineffectiveness.
Wait, somebody observed that the Phillies need to get younger?
MAKE THIS MAN THE GM!
There’s no room for that kind of logic and rational thought in baseball. What a silly idea
You obviously were against Brad Pitt in Moneyball…
asdf
Wouldn’t hire Hinch to manage. He’s a better scout
Wouldn’t mind the Red Sox picking up Damon for rightfield while Kalish gets a full year at pawtucket.
Yuck.
Usually teams want their right fielder to have a strong arm. Damon’s is not even adequate for LF, and in a way, Manny’s suspension helped the Rays in that it got Damon out of the field into the DH spot. While he really was not particularly effective as a DH, at least he did no harm in the field.
Ya i guess i didnt think about the terrible arm. Moving Crawford of course is out so i guess no reunion with Damon. Still it would be nice to like him again.
Yeah, that would be great. I can hear Damon saying” Boston is really the only place I’ve ever wanted to play in.”
Wea wif dat wisp of his.
Why would we go out of our way to get another left-handed batter to fill the right field slot, when we’ve already got two young guys who could fill that bill in Kalish and Reddick? If we’re gonna go out and get a one-year right fielder, whoever it is better be right-handed.
With guys like Raul Ibanez (40), Brad Lidge (35), Brian Schneider (35), and Ross Gload (36) hitting free agency, even if they re-sign Rollins, the Phillies will already be in a good spot to get younger. It just depends on how they fill those holes in LF and the bullpen. Also, given the addition of Hunter Pence, there are possible signs of movement in the right direction.
Another option for the Phillies at SS is to sign Jose Reyes (29) as a free agent, rather than re-sign Jimmy Rollins (33). Moving in the direction of youth doesn’t have to mean handing the job to a rookie or bench player.
Jose Reyes? No!!!
That is all.
Dave Martinez…..manager
What do you think, Ben?
Sounds good to me.
Reyes will want a mega deal from the Phils, although I think he will play well in Philly because he does derive his energy from the crowd I still don’t think that will get the pilllies younger
The biggest worry I would have about signing Jose Reyes is the concern about his impact on the clubhouse. Because it also means losing Jimmy Rollins to free agency, the Phillies are losing a clubhouse leader for a potential clubhouse cancer. The Phillies have always brought in guys with “good character.” Not sure that Reyes fits that bill.
They’d go with Freddy Galvis before paying Reyes the mega-bucks, in my opinion, especially with Cole Hamels’ free agency pending.
I’m fine with giving Galvis a shot. They won with Jroll hitting .250 in 2009 and .243 + a combination of Valdez and Castro in 2010. They don’t need offense at that position if they can find an upgrade at third base and switch Polanco into a super utility type roll (let him play 2nd, 3rd, would allow Chase to switch to first in Howard’s absence, etc).
The kid can pick it with the glove. He doesn’t have Jimmy’s arm but he’s an absolute vacuum at short stop.
Not to say I wouldn’t want Jimmy back but if he’s offered the moon and the stars, I don’t want the Phillies giving it to him. Other than Reyes, who probably isn’t realistic (although with Ruben, who knows), there isn’t anybody out there worth giving $5-$10 million dollars to be a stopgap.
I’d like to see what Victorino could fetch on the trade market. Sort of like what Detroit did with Granderson, trade a veteran and get a younger, cheaper option at the position.
That’s another position they could get younger at. Third Base (trade), Left Field (with Mayberry/Brown), Shortstop (with Galvis), and Bullpen (DeFratus, Savery, Schwimer, Aumont).
Check out my take on the Red Sox at http://thebestsoxblog.mlblogs.com