Former Phillies closer Ryan Madson is set to join the Reds, but that’s not the only news to emerge from the NL East tonight…
- One scout guaranteed to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark that at least five teams will claim Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez, who is now on waivers (Twitter link).
- The Mets are close to finalizing the sale of at least five $20MM shares in the team, according to Andy Martino, Bill Madden and Teri Thompson of the New York Daily News. MLB has approved the potential investors, so the Mets should raise more than $100MM within the month, the Daily News reports.
- Phillies assistant GM Scott Proefrock said on Comcast SportsNet that the team has had discussions with Cole Hamels and expects to sign him to a one-year deal, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. I discussed a possible extension for Hamels last month. The left-hander will be eligible for free agency following the 2012 season.
Nelson Cruz misread the ball….
Wait, the Phils are only signing Hamels to a one-year deal? Isn’t this a red flag?
If I was Cole I’d tell the Phillies to eat poo
its called avoiding arbitration hearings.
It took me a minute to figure out what that post was talking about. I thought they were expecting Hamels to only sign a 1 year extension!!!
Reds have 39 players on the 40 man roster. Need a bargain bin, low risk OF to take remaining spot. Might be worth a flyer to snatch Fernando up, still young and could benefit from a change of scenery. But I think Ryan Ludwick might be on his way to Cincinnati
If Ryan keeps playing like he is, he’s going to end up on the 12-items or less line at the supermarket asking people if they have their rewards card.
Pitching was the Reds’ issue last year, why don’t they sign Roy Oswalt?
it’s going to be hard to sign Hamels to a long term deal with Halladay, Lee and Howard already getting big $$. but i hope Ruben will be able to pull it off after this year.
One of Pence/Hamels is gone after this year. Hamels will cost much more but is probably the better investment.
Those are not even the problem, but the nonsense deal they gave Rollins (3/33 and easily obtained vesting for 2015) that could have gone towards signing Hamels.
They will be needing to do something with Victorino and Pence also and wasted the money on a nearly finished Rollins.. Bringing back memories of what the NYY did with Jeter by rewarding a player for long past accomplishments, only the Phillies are not the Yankees.
Good luck keeping Hamels, Pence and Victorino and have fun with J-Roll in a couple of years.. Jim Hendry would have been proud of that theory..
I’m more accepting of the deal they gave Rollins than the deal they gave Papelbon.
You at least should be a little informed. The Rollins deal is a great one, Pence is under control until 2014 and as a matter of fact the Phillies can keep ALL of these players. Hate on that.
Pence is under control until after 2013, but he is going to be costing?? He made 7m last year.. Maybe you should stay informed..
Nobody was bidding on Rollins, yet Romero went and gave him a 3/33m contract? Is he George Steinbrenner? Rewarding people for past performance?
No hate, reality check.
Romero did make one of the best horror movies in ‘Night of the Living Dead.’. The guy deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Oh you were talking about Amaro. I’d still side with him considering that J-Roll was a top two SS option this winter and he signed for 60+ million less than Reyes
I’m less concerned about budget constraints than other fans when it comes to the Phillies. Yeah, they might need to sacrifice Victorino or Pence, but every year you can sign some comparatively cheaper alternatives in the outfield (even if you have to mix and match, platoon players). Pence is good, but it isn’t like he’s some big time run producer. I think his price will start to outweigh his performance when he makes it to free agency. You can’t sign good pitching as easily as you can find offense on the market. Look at the Rays, they cut and pasted a lineup together and produced a pretty good offense out if it.
To me, if you keep a pay roll that is top heavy with a handfull of select players, you need to balance it out by developing your much cheaper minor leaguers to be ready to step in. Ultimately, that is more of my concern, that they aren’t developing and promoting their young players.
I can understand Papelbon also to some extent, that 4/44m deal think it was may have been a bit much, though the vesting 11m option could have been set so it will not hit for the team.
That Rollins deal was the killer IMO for getting Hamels and Victorino back, who IMO think the Phillies should be targeting to resign, while Rollins was the main one to let walk, then Pence.
Pence, let allow to hit FA and try to obtain as you suggested, he is someone of value and see what the market is for him and then either sign or let him walk, but have very serious doubts the market for Rollins was anywhere near 3/33m, much less the easily obtained extra 1/11m vesting option. That was a serious mistake and could weigh heavily on retaining either Victorino, or especially Hamels.
That Rollins sign is going to go down as one of the worst in years.
I understand your point and I don’t necessarily disagree. But I think Howard’s contract hamstrings them more than Rollins. I honestly find Victorino more valuable than both Pence and Rollins. But with Rollins, it is so hard to find a decent shortstop who offers some offense. Will his production match his salary? Probably not. I know they have a minor league SS who might be ready in a year or 2. But otherwise, I’m not sure there was a better option at shortstop that was reasonably attainable in either trade or free agency. The way their lineup leans to the left and the way their offense tends to be all or nothing, they can’t just throw a defensive minded shortstop out there. They need some offensive production from the position.
My point is that a team with such a wicked offense like Philly can get away with a average offensive player at a position or 2. Rollins production has been steadily declining anyway and can’t see how it is going to start increasing as he gets even older.
Philly could sign another SS, trade for one even and shave that 11m in half, maybe more and put that 11m per season towards one of those other 3 who would help the team much more.
As you said, a glove at the position (SS) is the most important thing and Alex Gonzalez was even available for a time this past offseason as just a name to throw out.
Agreed on Howard. It was an overpay back when he was extended, but that was awhile back that contract was given and right now they could have been forward thing towards Hamels/Victorino and IMO they need to be getting some priorities straight.
I like potato salad.
I disagree about your assessment of their offense. Its good when it is clicking right, but it’s a lineup that can go through long stretches of poor results. Alot of swing and miss players. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still take their overall production for the year. But from game to game it can get inconsistent.
Please stick to commenting on your own team because you’re clueless about the Phillies. KTHXBYE
I’d like to see Martinez given aonther chance somewhere that would keep him in the minors and not shuttle him around between teams. Stick him in the lineup and see what he does. Let him build some confidence. Hopefully he’ll stay healthy and show some of the skills that led to his hype. He’s too young to give up on.
Why not give up on him? Lastings Milledge was young enough to give up on too.
Lastings also stuck around a little bit in the majors and did display some skill. Lastings problem was in his head. But I do agree with your point that Mets prospects are overhyped. Maybe Martinez is and this is the best he’s going to be. But why not take a chance? He’s cheap.