The Phillies have optioned former All-Star Domonic Brown to Triple-A after his rehab stint came to a close. Brown broke out in 2013 but endured a rough season last year, and it now seems he’ll have to earn his way back onto the active roster. In spite of his troubles, writes David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News, the 27-year-old has upside that remains worth trying to tap into for the rebuilding club.
Here’s more from the game’s eastern divisions:
- The Phillies are sending former skipper Charlie Manuel to watch Red Sox minor leaguer Manuel Margot, Murphy reports. Margot, a rising prospect, could in theory be an important piece in a deal involving Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels, though at present that is a largely speculative connection. As WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford writes, it is “intriguing” to consider whether the Phils would consider structuring a deal around Margot and, perhaps, one of Boston’s upper-level arms — a scenario that Peter Gammons suggested earlier in the winter (Twitter link).
- As things stand, the Red Sox are not yet prepared to make a move for Hamels, writes Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald. But, says Lauber, the club should be prepared to do so — perhaps sooner than later. Indeed, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes, things could be shaping up for an earlier-than-usual market, particularly with a number of possible Hamels suitors dealing with significant rotation issues.
- There have been recent suggestions that struggling Red Sox reliever Edward Mujica may be in trouble of losing his roster spot, as Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe tweeted last night. But while a Boston roster move is expected today, tweets the Globe’s Nick Cafardo, it is not expected to be a DFA of the embattled righty.
- The Yankees are among the clubs dealing with concerns in their starting five, due in large part to the enhanced uncertainty surrounding Masahiro Tanaka. As John Harper of the New York Daily News writes, the club is still hopeful that its ace will return this summer, though there is plenty of reason for skepticism. As Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com explains, the larger concern is perhaps whether Tanaka’s devastating splitter will ultimately prove an unsustainable offering in the long run. “That’s what’s made him successful, so that’s how he pitches so you have to deal with it,” said manager Joe Girardi.
Why are the Phillies scrambling all the sudden to get rid of Hamels? They supposedly had the upper hand in negitiations and now they announce they will eat salary and sending their scouts out when they were pretty firm on the prospects they wanted. Im wondering if they caught wind of the Sox considering other trade options we dont know about.
I don’t think they are.
They are just doing their homework, and exploring all options.
I do think a trade will happen soon, as there are too many teams with rotation issues, as the article states. Cards, Dodgers, Yanks lost a major component of their rotation recently. And Boston’s rotation is just bad.
I was wondering if the Phils said they’d eat salary in hopes of getting other teams involved again, as the Dodgers and Cards are also down an arm.
The Phils have been doing extensive scouting of other rosters, as reported in Philly media. This isn’t news. I do think the Phils have told Hamels to do his part and the Phils will actively take steps to market him. The unreported feature of this story is whether Hamels would invoke or forego his no-trade rights in a deal to a team attracted by the Phils’ offer to put salary in the pot.
Well, Cliff Lee had great value at the start of last year, and now he is worthless. With the way pitchers are falling I think they want to move him while he still can return a good haul. If he has a fluke injury like Wainwright he will just be another $20m contract that is unmovable for them and that will delay the rebuild.
Personally, I think they should trade him for a good prospect and a couple of good bullpen arms that he can flip at the trade deadline. He can still get his haul of prospects it will just take him a bit more work.
The Phillies have the most leverage now, because they’re finished and willing to trade Hamels immediately. Come July, there will be more SP available.
Not sure if its an advantage, but they need to move him BEFORE the deadline when there could be a lot less expensive options, even if for just 2-3 months.
Its why they are coming off Swihart and Betts and now willing to eat some cash.
For the Sox, they will look internally first before considering Hamels.
I think they’re starting to wise up to the fact that it’s very much in their best interest to trade Hamels for the best prospect package available. They’re not short on cash, they’re short on quality prospects to help them rebuild, and it’s very unlikely that Hamels will still be a top pitcher by the time they’re ready to contend again. Announcing that they’re willing to eat cash in a potential deal makes it more likely that teams will offer higher-ranked prospects in a trade.
Thats possible but its more likely that the Phils have finally realized there is no chance Ben C is bluffing now with the injury to Vazquez and the importance of Mookie to their ML team, even if he was at one time (I don’t believe he ever was). The truth has always been the Sox can probably beat most teams offers without Betts and Swihart. Now I think the Phillies will at least explore a trade from that prospective before they move on. Amaro has been trying to save face here and get a big name prospect but his team is better served getting quantity from a team with a deep farm anyway.
Its funny because the names they are looking at are all in our top 7. Margot, Devers and One of the LHP. And since the sox system has been ranked #2 Im sure the Phills would have zero complaints from the return, even if it doesnt include Swihart and Betts.
I suggested a trade involving the players named as well as asking them to eat about 20+M in cash and almost got laughed off every board….seems reality is starting to sink in with some, starting with RAJ.
Money is to get other teams involved like Texas, the cards, and the Padres. And possibly he Red Sox to let go off some of there prospects. Red Sox don’t like parting with prospects even though they haven’t produced a solid major leaguer out of their top ten prospects over the last 3-4 years. betts has the best chance so far. Doesn’t make sense to not deal some specs when recently they haven’t pulled through for Boston.
I suspect that with the injury and underperformance epidemic other teams are scrambling to re-engage the Phillies in trade talks. The Philadelphia front office is merely doing its due dilligence.
Get rid of Mujica bring up Eduardo Rodriguez and move Masterson to the bullpen.
Masterson should be in the pen at Pawtucket.
Then where would that put Wade Miley?
Hes had two QS his last two starts. Besides Porcellos solid outing last night, Masterson has been the only reliable one…albeit 4 starts, but i figure if you want him sent down (does he even have options?) after four starts I could use the same SSS to respond 🙂
Eduardo Rodriguez may be ready for a call up, but Masterson has a 3.54 FIP in 22.2 innings meaning that his 5.16 ERA is higher than it should be.
They should go 6 man rotation with the starters available out of the pen on their normal bullpen work days.
Boston and Mets line up for an interesting trade partner. Why don’t they explore that route, instead? Cost controlled young positional player for cost controlled young pitcher.
I know the Jesus Montero Michael Pineda trade isn’t a good example, but in theory, it should have worked for both sides.
Boston have E-Rod, Owens, Johnson, and Barnes….. They have pitching prospects, they just need an established starter. Unless we were talking about deGrom, but we know that ain’t happening.
lolz. deGrom is definitely not on the table, but it’s good to aim high. Montero should be in the conversation, but I’m not sure the Mets would move him before trying to move Gee/Niese (somewhere, not necessarily NYY).
The Red Sox aren’t going to want Montero, Gee or Niese.
Sorry, I meant “not necessarily BOS”. If I were BOS I wouldn’t want any of the three either because they already have too many back of the rotation guys.
Agreed. The Mets have only seemed to make Gee available his year and teams don’t seem to be biting. Personally, I thought Niese would be an attractive piece to several teams. The volatility of pitchers makes any trade for a position player of the caliber of Betts or Swihart unlikely though. Unless, the trade is very favorable for the Sox.
Because Jon Niese doesn’t push the Red Sox rotation into tip top shape. Jon Niese would be a fix, Montero would be a fix this year. They need that established guy. And Hamels makes the most sense. cueto does too but he’s not staying in Boston considering he’s gonna get 200 million in FA.
What if the Red Sox aren’t planning on contending this year but are really planning on going for 2016 and onwards?
Then a Hamels deal doesn’t make as much sense for them. Although I find that hard to believe considering the AL East this season that they aren’t at least trying to make the playoffs. Makes going over the luxury tax a mistake if you’re not planning on going for it.
Perhaps the message that Phils are willing to eat money is just GM code to Cherington that Phils will take back Victorino/Craig as salary relief for 2015 if the xyz prospects are there, also.
Maybe also, Phils would like to execute deal sooner and acquire said excess player(s) well before trade deadline, so they could be played and flipped before then.
Victorino and Craig don’t have much value right now, except as subtractions of contracts. They could improve and be worth more. They wouldn’t hurt the Philles, because the Phillies are already bad (although what would you do with Craig/Howard) so it’s a way to reduce Hamels net cost while perhaps getting a little upside.
Yea, my issue all along is Howard is a sunk cost, and in the offseason, they should have taken even $5M/2y from KC or Baltimore for him and moved him out of the way.
To me a Hamels trade does not make any sense in terms of fixing rotation issues and mainly giving up too much in prospects.
It doesn’t make as much sense to trade for Hamels if you aren’t planning on competing this season. If you’re going for it next year then the pitching prospect/s you give up could be rotation pieces next year. If you’re going for it this year I think putting Hamels at the top of the rotation will fix more than just the one spot. It’s hard to say how much having him to stabilize the rotation would bring. But it may be enough to be the difference maker for at least two years.
That was my thought also. They could just be patient, keep the prospects, throw in some of E Rod, Owens Barnes once in a while to check their potential. That won’t mean they cannot still be contending this year and add a solid pitcher at the deadline if needed (as they did with Peavy two years ago). Anyway, still too early in the season and too many variables which will impact this season. I am still optimistic about rotation turning things around.
Then the Sandoval and Ramirez signings maybe weren’t the smartest moves.
Seems to be working out pretty good and they will produce for a few years.
Does Hamels make the Red Sox a Wild Card contender let alone a World Series contender? No knocking him but he doesn’t nearly answer the all of Boston’s question and is going to be expensive.
They are already a Wild Card contender as well as a contender for the division…
With that rotation and bullpen they are a candidate for nothing.
In April, everyone’s a contender.
…except the Brewers.
The Red Sox are a contender whether or not they do a big deal. The rest of the division has serious flaws. Maybe one of the other four breaks out, but there are two wild-card spots. If they want Hamels, they can certainly afford him, both in money and talent. But I get the sense that they only want him if they can get him for a price that is lower than RA has to sell at.
Wow, a player of Brown’s abilities does not belong in AAA. For my Phil’s sake I hope he’s called up soon before a grievance is filed. They clearly have it out for Downtown.
Downtown is awful.
Brown has been awful for almost his whole career, except for those six weeks…]
Watched the kid come up through the system and when he was named top prospect while in Clearwater,FL.
Hes a great kid. Respectful, smart and a hard worker. Unfortunately it hasnt translated to MLB on a consistent basis. Had a good year in 2013, but looked terrible in 2014…I certainly dont agree with the way hes been handled, but one full year with an OPS over 800 and one year under 700 doesnt mean hes awful. The rest of his MLB time has been sporadic. Getting Pence really should have never happened IMO.
Time to get serious discussions with what it would take to get Hamels and Ken Giles. I’m a Phils fan and I love Giles, but where will he be at when they’re a legitimate contender again. Anyone under 26 years old should be available. Sox could dump Mujica, Phils send them Giles and Hamels for Rodriguez, Margot, Owens/Johnson, Devers, and Coyle/Bradley Jr, and one more B-level.
Why do you think the phillies youngest players should be available? They are trying to rebuild, not trade away their future. Plus I dont think Boston would make that trade.
It is literally a trade that works out for nobody……
Because the Phils last need for the next couple years is a power reliever. Shelf life of these guys is 5 years tops. They could hopefully develop another closer within 3-5yrs when they’re competitive again and have the ability to sell high on Giles. Just sayin, this team isn’t going to sniff the playoffs until 2018 and they should be able to yard up another closer for that time, maybe even from the batch of arms they obtained this past offseason.
But why should anyone under 26 be available if the goal is to rebuild? Seems to counter-act the goal more so than anything.
That’s too many prospects. For Hamels alone, I’d do 2 of those guys and 2 lower-level prospects. And why would the Phillies trade Giles instead of Papelbon?
So you want 4 of our top 7, two of which are our top two pitchers, and another guy?
You gonna eat half of Hamels deal?
Giles has looked about as good as what we already have this year.
9IP 9H 6R 6BB
Now, obviously a SSS, but hes young, not a closer, and has started out poorly so far. Whos to say hes not going to be just another arm that wasnt good enough to start or close. That, and i think RAJ wants to keep his young guys if he can.
Trout like as in they both play baseball?
lol!
Hamels/Papelbon and cash to Boston for Margot/Devers/E. Rodriguez/Coyle
That’s in the ballpark of what it should take. Losing both E.Rod and Margot would be tough to swallow, but you have to give up talent to get talent.
Would have to be a substantial amount of cash though.
Amaro said he’s willing.
ERod should not be included. He, within 2 years, will be better than Hamels. The kid is 22 and a legitimate ML 3,4, or 5 now.
Brian Johnson, though not on the 40 man roster could step into the rotation this weekend against the Yankees.
Something like this seems plausible.
Substitute Trey Ball or Henry Owens or both in the package above. ERod and Brian Johnson stay or no deal in my mind.
Id rather Owens…i think the Sox, and every evaluator, is very high on ERod.
Henry Owens, one of Margot/Devers, and pick one from Sean Coyle, Garin Cecchini, or Deven Marrero.
The cash should be about 20-30M for Hamels and they will have to take some of Paps deal too….
Not saying Id do this, but thats about where I see that deal going.
Ok, time for Phills fans to laugh at this realistic trade.
Steve Trout? 🙂
I think he meant trout like the fish….
Seriously, can people stop comparing players to Trout? There are literally no other players like Mike Trout, either in the majors or the minors. Players of Trout’s caliber come along about once every 20 years at most. The only thing these comparisons do is stop people from taking you seriously when you make them.
The only player similar to Trout at this age is Mickey Mantle, so it’s more like 60 years.
Nah, wouldnt go as far back to Mantle. Just go back to ARod’s first few years and you have a good comparison except I’d say Rodriguez was a bit better… A lot better.
A-Rod’s surface numbers are better but he played in a way better era for offense. In Rodriguez’ age-22 season his OPS+ was 136; Trout’s, in his age-22 season, was 167. That’s pretty substantial. OPS+ is, of course relative to the league.
Amaro has made some questionable moves as my Phil’s GM, but this one takes the cake. Optioning a high upside 5 tool guy like Dom is unacceptable.
Five tool guy??? Check please.
He has a poor eye at the plate, warning-track power, the ability to play a below-average corner outfield, and can jog to first on ground balls.
Unfortunately by my count that’s only four tools.
The only similarity between Dom Brown and Mike Trout is that both players have hair.
very little hair X D
Hamels/Papelbon/Ruiz and cash for Swihart/E.Rod/Margot/Barnes/Craig/Victorino.
Swihart isn’t going anywhere and I really doubt the Rodriguez is available either.
Unless Hamels plans on doing a Wilbur Wood and starting every two or three days, a deal is almost pointless. That starting rotation needs a complete overhaul, though I still have faith in Kelly & Porcello.
Red Sox problem is that these are not cheap rotational problems. I think this is lost on so many Red Sox fans, here and elsewhere. Red Sox under-performers in the rotation are on hefty a/o long term deals, minus Kelly. So while many here are sanguine and patient, ownership has a reason to be otherwise. If you add arms from AAA, the team still has to figure out what to do with these sunk costs.
The Phils’ willingness to contribute salary is tantamount to an offer to take back a bad contract or two — of which the Red Sox have several. But that costs prospects including some whom commenters here are anointing as untouchable.
What results is that you put your hopes in people turning their seasons around or putting your trust in the mediocrity of the AL East. Kudos if you think either of these is a plan.
My point exactly. You beat me by 5 mins. The rotation as mediocre as it is isnt exactly making league minimum. I see them begging to get rid of one of their outfielders but that rotation is going to be the rotation until at least the all star break.
If the Sox get Hamels, who loses their spot in the rotation? They aren’t exactly getting paid peanuts. Buch makes 14 mil, Masterson makes 10, Porcello makes about 13, Miley makes 13. Not sure what Joe Kelly makes but my point is you have to think about those guys even as mediocre as they are pitching and then add a 20 million guy? Sorry folks this isn’t the Yankees I don’t care of they are your rival the Sox don’t compete on luxury tax threshold.
Miley likely, but it should be Buchholz
They just inked him to a three year deal so hes going nowhere. Kelly seems like the obvious one to me. I believe he has three options left as well.
But he’s also been our best pitcher
It’d be Miley or Kelly out of the rotation were it to happen right now, and Miley is only making 3MM this year. Chances are, Kelly is gonna falter at some point, and Miley should improve. Honestly, it is way too early into the season to predict who would lose their spot, and they need another five starts each to get a better idea.
Beginning of the season, I would have predicted Kelly. Now I might lean towards Masterson, whose diminished velocity might play better out of the pen. As you say, it is too early to peg a single name, however Kelly appears to be taking a step forward this year. A little more consistency and he is a good #2 with that stuff.
Interesting fact…. Manuel Margot struck out for the first time this season today. almost 60PA without striking out. Streak actually went back to last season and was close to 90 plate appearances.
I was just going to point this out myself after clicking his name and looking at his stats. That’s ridiculous.
With all the hype over Betts, he has been flying under the radar. A very solid prospect.
Hamels to the rangers for alfaro and prospects
So the Phillies corner OF spots are being held down by Ben Revere and Jeff Francoeur, neither of which are likely to be the future of this ballclub and Brown has to work his way back? The only thing I can think is the Phillies want to showcase (if you want to call it that) Revere and Francoeur so they can be moved and Brown will be the first call-up if either one leaves. I’ll admit it’s a reach but this team needs help and a pair of OF hitting a combined .200 isn’t the answer.
You can argue Brown isn’t MLB ready or caliber to which the reply should be, “and Francoeur is?”