In two seasons with the Phillies, third baseman Placido Polanco has struggled to stay healthy and on the field. Despite being named an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2011, manager Charlie Manuel says that he would be in favor of an upgrade at the position, writes MLB.com's Nate Mink.
"If we need to upgrade and we can, we should do it," the skipper said on Wednesday.
Polanco is guaranteed $6.25MM next season, but Mink writes that it shouldn't handcuff the Phillies from exploring other options at third base. Manuel doesn't think that the Phillies need a power bat at the position, but durability will be a major focus for the club this offseason.
Polanco underwent surgery yesterday to repair two sports hernias, which could sideline him for the beginning of the 2012 season. The 36-year-old played in 132 games in 2010 and just 122 this past year.
Thats hawt
“They should trade for David Wright”
hah i was waiting for it
That would be a downgrade …….. he is awful on defense.
He’d be a nice right handed bat off the bench… but I won’t settle for anything less than Longoria.
this team needs another $15-$20 million player like it needs a hole in the head..No more stars that you can’t bench when they go stone cold in the playoffs. They need to not sign Rollins (terrible aproach at the plate for a leadoff hitter), sign an older free agent shortstop for 1 year while they wait for Galvis, Get a competent hitting back up that can play 1st and 3rd, and sign a closer if and when they can’t sign Madsen.
Guys that we should not re-sign: Ibanez,Lidge,Rollins,Schneider, Gload, Francisco, Madsen, and Oswalt – Free up 60-65 million.
Remember, we are adding $14 mill and $5 mill to Lee and Howard’s deals next year. Hamels will make $18 mill per if we re-sign him begining in 2013.
always nice to air out the dirty laundry
Could the Phillies come asking for Youk? They got pitching Sox need pitching…
That would be my fantasy of fantasies.
Me too, then he couldn’t kill the Yankees anymore.
He’d be injured by August.
Other than Halladay, Lee and Hamels what pitching do they have that the Sox need? None of the 3 of those players will be moved. Vance Worley?
We need a right fielder too. Worley and Pence would be welcomed in my book. I’m not saying I’d pull the trigger just making conversation.
I highly doubt that will happen, we fought hard to keep worley and we traded great prospects for pence so….
lolllll
lol…Worley AND Pence? Are the Red Sox throwing Lester or Pedroia in the deal too?
You have a better chance of playing right field. That’s an awful trade for the Phillies and would never, ever EVER happen.
Seriously doubt it. Middlebrooks isn’t ready to take over, even if he was I think they’d prefer to keep Youk and transition him to DH and use his flexibility to back up first and third.
That seems like a reasonable argument. That said, I think the Red Sox trade Youkilis.
Try to acquire someone who isn’t geriatric.
DRUNK POST PLAYOFF GAME THOUGHTS: They should sign Aramis Ramirez if they want offense and/or Kevin Kouzmanoff if they want defense. They can swing Polanco out there at 2B/3B and Utley at 2B/1B to keep ’em all fresh and get plenty of days off. They’ll likely have some sort of Mayberry/Utley platoon at 1B early in the season anyway unless they go out and land Lee or Pena or something to play 1B in Howard’s absence. It makes sense on paper and boosts the team’s overall potential…
…and let the commentators attack.
Ive never heard of someone drunk thread posting. This is a first.
You should try it sometime. It’s the drunk call for the internet geek.
hahha
do you think ryan howard is going to be gone forever? its a long offseason and its not like his legs were his weapon of choice..
he’ll be back in the phillies lineup being overpaid and underwhelming in no time.
Ruben should have some of what you’re drinking. Aramis at 3B, then use versatility to fill the gaps until Howard returns. Utley splits his time between 1B/2B, with Mayberry and Polanco playing each position when Utley’s not there. Mayberry platoons with Brown in LF otherwise. Polanco can steal some ABs from Galvis at SS when high-K/low GB% pitchers are on the mound (Worley, Lee).
They’re saying 5-6 months for Howard to return; that’s probably optimistic, but he should be back by June or so. No need to break the bank for Pena or Lee.
i like it. we need more polanco’s not less (when healthy). keeps everyone fresh
Wilson Betemit
If he stayed healthy, Polanco could be a nice option for the Jays at 2B. He his a great contact hitter with (historically) a good ability to get on base. I guess he is getting kind of old (36) and his numbers have been slowly declining, but he seems better than most options out there.
I still think KJ is our 2012 starting 2B.
the free agent list of 3rd baseman looks weak. Polanco was an offensive disaster after April.. His inability to drive the ball let the opposition play even shallower against him cutting off potential hits. I am in agreement to move him but who would take his 6 mill salary after his meltdown this year? Amaro sure has his work cut out this off season.
I don’t know if we really have the money. We still need to resign Madson and Hamels then we can see how much money we have left. Maybe if Amaro didn’t decide to give 25mil a year to a player averaging 32 homers we would.
lidge, ibanez, and probly oswalt r gone this season..ibanez n lidge both made 12 million and oswalt made like 16.5 million, thats forty million to spend..throw in rollins and thats 47
They can HAVE Chone Figgins
Aramis Ramirez or bust.
They aint looking for power they want D.. A-ram got no D.. he onl got power not a good fit for phills since that aint what they want
Eloquently put.
Well they are in a better position than the Braves.
If the Phillies upgrade and are interested in unloading Polanco, I could see a deal with the Rockies being a fit, straight up for Seth Smith, to help both teams fill a position they seem to be trying to fill.
They don’t need a power bat at 3rd.. Angels need some power at 3rd trade Callaspo for Polanco if phills arent looking for power.. Only Durability then Callaspo is a good fit for them.. But then na he won’t even be availble for the start of 2012 maybe.. We need someone young and healthy at 3rd so not a good fit for Halos.. and Alberto compared to Placido this year Alberto had more power buy 1 homer and rbi 4 less then him and Albertos Avg was better lol.. So na
that’s an ok trade, but Phils would have to kick in a little cash to make up at least some salary difference
Btw there already stacked so just go ahead and be the Yanks for the NL i guess.. Trying to create superstar team they might choke like Bosox haha funny Bosox
They’re stuck with Polly for another year. Why they committed three years to the guy, I have no idea – especially after Ibanez crashed so hard. I like the idea of trying out Kevin Kouzmanoff. He might hit around 20 home runs, and he’ll give you great defense at third regardless. Even if he hits .250/.330/.450 at best, he’ll at least be consistent offensively, which is more than you can say for other possible trade targets like Ian Stewart, Ty Wigginton, Chris Johnson, or Jack Hannahan.
I’ve been saying Ian Stewart for awhile. The Rox seem desperate to unload him, and I think with the right guidance, and a change of scenery, he could be an excellent 3B. He and Polly could start in a platoon situation, and see how it goes from there. Worst comes to worst, he’s a LH potential power bat off the bench.
Chase Headley from the Padres what’s your offer?
Stewart, Betemit, A Hill – these are the type players the Phils should look at. I would like to know if the team has any insurance on the Howard contract. Unless there is some money coming from that I would stay away from Aramis Ramirez and other big ticket free agents.
I would take David Wright in a heartbeat. I think he needs a change of scenery. He’s a Philly type player also
I’m sure you would, but NYM isn’t giving him up. The 3B market is shallower than the starting pitching market, but I’m sure you could some people talking if you included Dom Brown, career minor leaguer in the conversation.
You’re a ‘career minor leaguer’ when you’re 24?
Welcome to philly aramis.
we could’ve had Beltre. He would look real nice in our lineup.
nah, we couldn’t.
Yes we could have… We didn’t want to pay him $$$ coming off a down year, so we offered him the same as Oakland and someone else… then Boston came in an gave him the $10 million 1 year deal.
Albert Pujols can play third base… just saying.
Wow, with the Phils current payroll obligations, getting a big name like that is out of the question. I don’t think you want another albatross contract on the books!
We’ll take Alex Rodriguez for half his salary and Vance Worley.
Obv I joke, but would the Yankees consider it? Yes.
Real comment: If they’re smart, the trick the Phils have up their sleeve this off season is this. They should pick up Oswalt’s contract. Then trade him to, well, any team in baseball for a third baseman. The return they would get from the Yankees or the Red Sox would be huge. I just wish either of those teams had someone, anyone, else playing 3rd.
I’d take Youk (Boston needs pitching badly and has a 3RD baseman in the minors awaiting, so Blanton, Kendrick or Worley could go), Michael Young, (Texas too needs pitching with either Worley, Kendrick or Blanton going) David Wright, (which is somewhat far fetched considering the Mets feel they’re going to be winners soon, and trading their leader isn’t the way to head into the season)…. I expect either Blanton, Worley and definitely Brown being traded for upgrades in the field and Utley being expendable as well,though his contract (15 million) is too tough to trade.
I’ll also add that Aramis Ramirez is a free agent, and Amaro would easily give him a 3 year deal, just like Polanco and Ibanez. I’d give him three years 42 million
Ruben has already said that he wants Dom Brown playing another full year in AAA at LF so I doubt we’ll see him up next year. That is unless he tears up and warrants a mid-season call-up.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Rollins as there allegedly is a split between whether or not Galvis is ready. Some upper ups are supposedly high on him now, and I’d like to see him up next year. Either starting SS if Rollins walks, or playing 2B, moving Utley to 1B while Howard is out.
Dom in left and Mayberry at first is smart money, with the better performer taking left field when Howard comes back.
If by transition year you mean still the best team in the NL, I completely agree with you.
Pence’s BABIP was .361 this season. It is likely that his BA will decrease significantly next season. He is more of a .280 hitter than a .314 hitter. I also don’t see him every coming close to 30 home runs.
he is a solid 25 hr hitter with an above average on base percentage. he is an asset.