Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio that the Phillies have maxed out their payroll and that any rumors about the team acquiring an infielder are "B.S." David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News provides a transcript of the conversation and points out that Amaro said similar things before acquiring Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee last year.
Amaro notes that the Phillies' payroll will be over $160MM and says no room for potential acquisitions exists. Chase Utley has an injured knee, prompting many – including MLBTR - to speculate on potential trades for the Phillies.
Valdez, Barfield, and Young are all playing very well. They are capable of taking some of the weight while Utley is out.
Hey Frank, Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Arthur Spooner?
You wouldnt believe how much I get that
Your name is frank_costanza and your picture is of Arthur Spooner…
I feel like you might be a fan of 90’s sitcoms.
LOL, His posts are even better if you read them as Arthur saying it.
What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?! He had 30 home runs, over 100 RBIs last year! He’s got a rocket for an arm… You don’t know what the hell you’re doing!”
Yeah Phillies dont need to make any acquisitions this year. This isn’t the first time the Phillies have had an injury.
No, we make acquisitions that make sense while maintaining a reasonable salary…
Yankees of the NL, they will trade for Young
As a Braves fan, I would love to see Young in a Phillies uniform.
Why? Young is still a good hitter…better than any other in-house backup the Phillies have.
Rube is full of
happiness? me too!
He always downplays things, but their payroll projects to be $20 mill more than last year. I dont think he is bluffing, the only way I could see them pulling a big deal is at the trade deadline if Utley is out for the year and things arent going well.
The Phillies won’t trade for Young because they are maxed out in payroll. They won’t trade for Young because he’s being paid $16 million for 3 more seasons, and the last thing the Phillies need is another declining player with a large contract.
basically the phillies won’t trade for him because he is wildly overpaid, for 3 more seasons, and not that good overall (especially since in the NL he will have to bat!)
But, if they offer any warm body, the Mets would be happy to ship them Castillo, eating the salary of course.
Is Castillo really THAT bad though? I’m hearing the Mets may release him soon. He had a terrible season last year, but proved he can still be at least somewhat productive with his 2009 season and even last year still had a league-average OBP.
Amaro you have lost the right to be believed. You said you had no money and then you signed Cliff Lee to 5 yrs 120 million……..It’s obvious you say it for strategic reasons, and then you swoop in and acquire a superstar.
Meh, payroll was stretched another $20 million recently. It’s pretty realistic that they are in fact maxed out, moreso than they were before the Oswalt and Lee deals. Hamels is set for a raise after this year and they have to worry about Rollins, assuming he doesn’t have another season like he did last year. He does that and he’s probably gone.
Plus, Oswalt has a $16 million option for 2012.
Strategically, what can be gained by it? I’m sure every GM in baseball is aware of Amaro and the way he conducts business. Saying their maxed out isn’t really going to make a difference.
Oh, and there aren’t any superstar infielders available via trade.
Why in the world would the Phillies sign Cliff Lee knowing it would put them in financial straights and not being able to fill other holes? You can have the best starting pitching in baseball but you can’t shortchange other areas of the team. Sooner or later you need quality major league proven depth.
Second base wasn’t a potentially gaping hole as it is now. At the time of the Lee signing, Utley’s state was totally unknown.
It’s still not a gaping hole as of yet. Nobody knows how much time Utley will miss or how effective he’ll be if he can play through it.
Hindsight 20/20
Hard to feel sorry for the Phillies though I guess it means they are going to lose a lot of games 1-0 this season.
Reuben sits at his desk, feet up, filing his nalis, phone hanging from one ear…
RUBE: Ed, I’m telling ya, You don’t want it. You want the WALT WHITMAN. It’s bigger, it’s stronger, it’ll hold up longer, and it’s gonna be cheaper…(Pause)…I’d be inclined to give it to you for Pence straight up, and believe me that’s a deal, buddy..
Secretary: Mr. Amaro, John Daniels is on line 2..
RUBE: Think about it Ed, it’s a 24 hour offer. gotta go..(Switches)..Jon, before you even start, I’m tapped, We’re not interested, it’s all B.S. rumors, Utleys never felt better, and Blanton is the best fifth starter in the game.
JD: Reuben, I talked to Nolan. We’ll give you 20 million and Michael for Joe straight up. Michaels on board.
RUBE: JD, wish I could but I’m tapped, baby. no room, can’t do it…
JD: Fine. We’ll take Kendrick too…
RUBE: Let me call Dave.
JD: ok.
Boy are you living in fantasyland!!!
I hate you.
But I salute you today, thanks for that.
I still can’t think of the Walt Whitman bridge without thinking of Hard Hittin’ Mark Whiten.
well, lee did take less money and years than what was expected to be offered and actually was offered. it’s not like rube was saying the phillies had NO money, just couldn’t offer what other teams were. with oswalt, rube pulled off a ridiculous deal and got the astros to pay a lot of the salary. he’s made some great deals so he might pull it off again but i think the well is pretty much empty.
The Phillies have money, but they dont want to get hit with the luxury tax. They were only able to sign Cliff Lee after Amaro put together a presentation stating why they needed him, and how he could make the deal work. The Phillies management have said that they will only extend payroll for big situations, like the possibility of signing Lee, which became a reality.
My heart goes out to Phillies fans. Rough life, being maxed out on payroll this year. And we expected such great things from them…
This just in.. Phills trade for MY