The Phillies have been involved in a handful of rumors this week in Orlando, as reports surfaced suggesting that the team is open to moving Domonic Brown, as well as aces Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. However, it sounds like the price tags on any of those players would be extremely high, reducing the likelihood of a deal. Here's the latest on the Phillies:
- One club told Peter Gammons (Twitter link) that the possibility of attaching Brown to Jonathan Papelbon in a trade is in play for the Phillies. In that scenario, Philadephia would use the savings to pursue starting pitching help.
- Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly spoke to a few people who have "knowledge of the inner workings" of the team, and received mixed reactions on whether the Phillies would really move Lee or Hamels. One source called the rumors a "smokescreen" while another suggested the club might trade Lee, but not Hamels.
- For his part, GM Ruben Amaro called the Lee and Hamels rumors "silly," according to Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com wonders if the Angels' trade of Mark Trumbo might provide a blueprint for the Phillies and Brown, considering both players are corner outfielders with big bats and limited defensive value.
- The Phillies are satisfied with their offense and aren't looking to make significant additions, but David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News notes that everything will have to break right for it to be an impact lineup.
Mariners and Phils should get together on Brown/Papelbon deal. Paxton and Nick Franklin? with Philly paying some of the Pap $$$$$
“In that scenario, Philadephia would use the savings to pursue starting pitching help.”
If they paid all of the Pap contract then I’d be down with the Mariners doing it.
All of the above for Mike Trout.
Jim “spoke to a few people who have ‘knowledge of the inner workings’ of the team, and received mixed reactions…One source called the rumors a ‘smokescreen’ while another suggested the club might trade Lee, but not Hamels.”
This has to be one of the most dysfunctional FO of all time. Everyone is saying something different and their talks contradict what they’re doing. They want starting pitching but they will deal Lee and Hamels. They want to improve the bullpen and deal their one solid arm in Papelbon. They want to get younger but sign Chooch and Byrd while trying to trade Brown. Oh, and Ruben those “silly” rumors were influenced by you: mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/phillies-willing-to-dis…
It makes no sense to me why they would want to trade Brown. He made some bad plays in the outfield, yeah. But those were mostly him diving for balls that he shouldn’t of. That can be fixed. It’s not as if he is Delmon Young out there.
Look at HR numbers over the last few years across the league, they are declining. 20 is the new 30 now and he hit 27 in his first real season in the MLB. Yeah, 12 came in one month, but that still leaves 15 across the other months. He’s 26 and under control until 2018. And the Phillies aren’t exactly getting any younger.
To say trade it for starting pitching? Did they not learn anything from 2011? Halladay/Hamels/Lee/Oswalt, and yet they lost game 5 of the NLDS 1-0. Pitching is much easier to find than hitting on the market. I’ll take a rotation anchored by Lee and Hamles, and possibly Gonzalez, rounded off by guys that put up league average numbers if they’ve got a guy that’s gonna hit you 30 homers securing the middle of the lineup.
That’s pretty much my take exactly, and it is probably the course that Ruben is going to pursue (focus on SP). The offense was 13 in the NL in runs scored, so there was an obvious problem with run production that Brown alone cannot solve (nor should he have to), but either way the lineup is currently set up for the way it will look on Opening Day. He will sign a FA pitcher from the open market, and a top-tier arm should give a solid 1-2-3. I personally don’t think Brown is going anywhere unless 3 prospects come back, Papelbon is shipped along with him, and the Phils eat salary. Ruben has to keep his ears open on Brown because some team might blow him away with a trade package, but I think most GMs and owners around the league know that Ruben is usually the one getting fleeced, not doing the fleecing. Even though I agree with your points on Brown, he does represent the most valuable trade asset and could bring back more prospective talent than he projects to have going forward…
What would it take for the Tigers to get Revere, a platoon of Davis and Revere and Davis would be so fast.
what would be the point of of trading Lee if they were looking to add pitching and are satisfied with the offense…which they TOTALLY shouldn’t be. The Phil’s offense last season was TERRIBLE. They don’t seriously think that signing Marlon Byrd is going to make their offensive woes disappear, right?
Phillies Fans: What would you need in return to send Paps and Brown to Boston?
For both, probably something along the lines of Jackie Bradley, Matt Barnes and Bryce Brentz. It’s gotta be worth it for the Phillies to part with Brown.