Headlines

  • Astros GM: No Interest In Trading Alex Bregman
  • Tigers Sign A.J. Hinch To Long-Term Extension
  • Erick Fedde Nearing Deal With Unknown Team
  • Mozeliak: Cardinals Listening To Offers On Tyler O’Neill
  • Support Our Winter Meetings Coverage With An Ad-Free Subscription
  • Brewers Re-Sign Wade Miley
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2024
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2023-24 Top 50 Free Agents With Predictions
    • Free Agent Prediction Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Mutual Interest Between Phillies, A.J. Ellis

By Steve Adams | November 29, 2016 at 8:32pm CDT

There’s mutual interest between the Phillies and veteran catcher A.J. Ellis about a reunion for the 2017 season, reports ESPN’s Jayson Stark. The Phils would like to have Ellis back and consider him both a leader and an “unofficial coach,” Stark notes.

The 35-year-old Ellis (36 in April) went from the Dodgers to the Phils alongside Tommy Bergjans and Joey Curletta in a surprising August swap that sent fellow veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz to Los Angeles. Ellis logged just 11 games with the Phils but showed well, hitting .333/.371/.500 in a tiny sample of 35 plate appearances. Those numbers brought up his overall season production a bit, but he still finished the year with an overall disappointing line of .216/.301/.298.

As it stands, the Phils project to have Cameron Rupp as their everyday catcher on the heels of a solid season. Rupp hit .252/.303/.447 with 16 homers and controlled the running game at an average rate (27 percent) while drawing slightly below-average framing marks from Baseball Prospectus. Ellis would profile as a backup to the 28-year-old Rupp and would offer a veteran source of advice for a pitching staff that, outside of right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, is quite young and lacks significant experience. None of Aaron Nola, Vince Velasquez or Jerad Eickhoff has thrown even 250 innings in the Major Leagues, and the Phils’ fifth starter will likely have even less experience. (Jake Thompson, Alec Asher, Zach Eflin and Ben Lively are among the candidates.)

Ellis would also serve as a stopgap to catching prospects Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp, both of whom come with MLB upside but likely require additional minor league seasoning. If Ellis ultimately lands elsewhere, the free-agent market offers many other options for the Phils, as names like Kurt Suzuki, Alex Avila, Geovany Soto, Ryan Hanigan, Jeff Mathis and Chris Iannetta, among others, are all available this offseason.

Share 0 Retweet 9 Send via email0

Philadelphia Phillies A.J. Ellis

Pirates Designate Jeff Locke For Assignment, Sign Lisalverto Bonilla
Main
Latest On Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations
View Comments (31)

Comments

  1. pgmitchell

    7 years ago

    wondering if the Phillies would do a Chris Archer trade with the Rays getting one of their young catchers a young outfielder and pitcher …..Archer for Andrew Knapp; Roman Quinn and Ben Lively.. Archer is signed for 5 years so he will be there when the Phils become contenders in the next couple of years …The Rays get a young catcher (lefthanded to platton with Maile or Casale) an athletic outfielder in Quinn and a young potential starter in Ben Lively……..

    Reply
    • hooligan

      7 years ago

      Wouldn’t make sense. Phillies need the prospects to build their own club, and while Archer would improve the staff, removing Quinn, Knapp, and Lively would be a massive blow to the phillies future outlook.

      Reply
      • cjhurst01

        7 years ago

        Hooligan – I couldn’t agree with you more. Seriously take Quinn out of the picture? The guy is lightening quick around the bases and plays good defense. And Lively looks like a pitcher who is going to be a decent 3 or 4. Knapp is a power catcher which is in short short supply.

        Reply
        • raltongo 3

          7 years ago

          Agreed…Archer just doesn’t fit with the Phillies’ current rebuilding strategy, which will focus more on adding quantity rather than the quality of one pitcher. I would think that a team like Texas could match up quite well with Tampa Bay in an Archer deal, though. For the Phillies, trading Caesar and/or Vinny V this offseason would be good sell-high opportunities for the club, and, with the market starved of starting pitching, I would almost expect Vinny’s new club to offer a bit more than usual to pry him away from Philly.

          Reply
      • raef715

        7 years ago

        no it wouldnt. they have Herrera for center, Alfaro to catch and guys like Eflin and Thompson for the rotation. id do that deal in a minute if i was the phils

        Reply
        • some guy 2

          7 years ago

          Agreed. Alfaro is the future, not Knapp. Quinn can’t stay healthy and looks like the odd guy out if the Phils start adding free agent power-hitting outfielders (which I hope they do eventually). This would be a good trade for the Phillies.

          Reply
    • Steve Adams

      7 years ago

      If the Phillies want Chris Archer, they’d have to start with guys like J.P, Crawford, Vince Velasquez, Aaron Nola, etc. Tampa Bay isn’t trading five years of Archer at a total of $38.5MM for three second-tier prospects.

      Reply
      • vtadave

        7 years ago

        My thought as well. Phillies aren’t getting Archer for that.

        Reply
    • tac3

      7 years ago

      Personally don’t think the proposal makes sense for the Phillies, but if it did, certainly let lively,knapp, and Quinn go, if I thought archer had ace potential. All of those prospects face stiff competition to make the future team

      Knapp needs to beat out Rupp & Alfaro
      If he plays first – Hoskins, Joseph and Ortiz
      Lively – has to fight for one open spot – Appel,Efflin, Thompson, pinto, Gowdy, Kilome .. Etc he is expendable – but if i where you, I’d slected someone else from the phils farm
      Quinn – could be a decent loss, and the main piece in your trade proposal, but he is injury prone, and the Phils have Herrera, moniak, and Rudolph coming … Plus williams,cozens, athlerr, and possibly a few others…

      I could cerraibly part with those players, I’d hate to lose Quinn, reminds me of bourn, but ya gotta give to get. The other two, are not likely to be the pieces of the future and are expenable.

      Reply
    • DannyQ3913

      7 years ago

      Take Quinn, his legs keep going out

      Reply
  2. houseoflords44

    7 years ago

    I don’t see the Phils including Lively in a trade like that. They do have other pitchers that could intrigue the Rays if the two sides would discuss a trade.

    Reply
    • pgmitchell

      7 years ago

      any suggestions on the piitchers the Phils would offer?

      Reply
  3. oofa

    7 years ago

    The Phillies could possibly intrigue them with Ricardo Pinto and maybe Tyler Goeddel along with Knapp and Quinn

    Reply
    • pgmitchell

      7 years ago

      Tyler Goeddel is a former Ray…if they get Quinn they would not need another outfielder Ricardo .Pinto ..ok ..

      Reply
    • Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA

      7 years ago

      Yeah look for a very similar package for Sale if not more for Archer. You start with untouchables like Crawford Moniak etc..

      Reply
      • tac3

        7 years ago

        Did the Dodgers ever offer their top prospects for Hamels a few years back? No, no they didn’t. In fact many teams way over value their top propsects, and maybe the league is starting to catch on. No way am I giving up Crawford, moniak, Alfaro and or Franco for archer … I’ll pass, and take my chances. Phillies need offense, not more pitching at this point in their rebuild.

        Reply
      • DannyQ3913

        7 years ago

        You’re nuts

        Reply
  4. Matt Galvin

    7 years ago

    No way it happens.

    Reply
  5. Brixton

    7 years ago

    Any deal for Archer would probably start with two of Moniak, Crawford, Alfaro, Herrera, Nola or Franco. 5 years of a potential #1 isn’t gonna come for 3 10-30 organization prospects or he would have been traded forever ago.

    Reply
    • TheMichigan

      7 years ago

      I really don’t think anyone would give up prospects of that caliber for Archer. I mean who would sell high on Archer right now? He was a borderline 4th starter masquerading as a #1 this year. He’s a bit low candidate like Sonny Gray.

      I’m not saying Archer has not proven himself in the past it’s just you need to go off the latest prescient which would be his latest sample of a 9-19 4.02 ERA with 30 HR 233 Ks 67 BB with a 1.242 WHIP.

      Those numbers are not “ace” numbers and definitely do not get one of the best prospects in baseball (Crawford), the number 1 overall pick in the latest draft (Moniak), proven Major Leaguers (Franco and Herra) one of the better catching prospects in the league right now (Alfaro) or even a unproven #2 ceiling starter (Nola). Let alone you don’t even start with 2 of these guys, you don’t start with any of them.

      These guys wouldn’t even be mentioned let alone considered in an Archer trade. Archer going to Philly makes no sense anyway.

      Reply
      • vtadave

        7 years ago

        Nola is a 2 and Archer a 4? Yeah no.

        Reply
        • TheMichigan

          7 years ago

          Nola has 2 ceiling and Archer pitched like a 4 you clearly didn’t read my comment, you just saw numbers and ran

          Reply
  6. bonquisha

    7 years ago

    Philly fans sure looking as bright as ever in this thread.

    Reply
    • jleve618

      7 years ago

      Great comment brah!

      Reply
    • raltongo 3

      7 years ago

      It wasn’t a Phillies fan who brought up all of this Archer trade nonsense

      Reply
    • tac3

      7 years ago

      Not brighter than your turquoise colored shirt!

      Reply
  7. raef715

    7 years ago

    not against the idea of bringing back Ellis, as a veteran, and to mentor the young catchers. but i dont see how you have both Alfaro and Knapp in the minors- no point in sending one back to AA.
    if rosters expand to 26 you could conceivably carry 3 catchers and Knapp gets some first base work at times.
    but somes more likely a trade in the works- trading high on Rupp would certainly be an idea with Alfaro waiting in wings. Rupp seems like a leader on the team, but Ellis’ presence would ease his loss. or if keeping Rupp, deal Knapp, though not sure his value as teams arent wild about his defense.
    and maybe in a year, when Mackanin continues to show he isnt a major league manager, Ellis steps in.

    Reply
    • tac3

      7 years ago

      I’m for selling high on Rupp. It’s a gamble, but I roll the dice that Alfaro has the better career, use knapp as the backup or the defensive catcher in the lower minors later on. Ideally Alfaro turns out to be the best of the bunch, with Rupp as his backup. Package Rupp and VV together, should get an awesome player in return. Time to sell high is certainly this offseason

      Reply
  8. phillyphan3

    7 years ago

    Phillies aren’t getting archer for a bundle of spare parts in their minors. Gonna take nick Williams and lively and Quinn.

    Reply
  9. AGAVE

    7 years ago

    Would wither Texas team consider him?…based upon his upbringing there

    Reply
  10. Bowadoyle

    7 years ago

    All the money they have to spend and this is the best can do? We’re not the Pirates.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Astros GM: No Interest In Trading Alex Bregman

    Tigers Sign A.J. Hinch To Long-Term Extension

    Erick Fedde Nearing Deal With Unknown Team

    Mozeliak: Cardinals Listening To Offers On Tyler O’Neill

    Support Our Winter Meetings Coverage With An Ad-Free Subscription

    Brewers Re-Sign Wade Miley

    Phillies Extend Manager Rob Thomson

    Jung Hoo Lee, Woo Suk Go Officially Posted

    Brewers Sign Jackson Chourio To Eight-Year Extension

    Braves Acquire Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales, Evan White From Mariners

    Dodgers To Re-Sign Joe Kelly

    Jim Leyland Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame

    Angels’ 2023 Payroll Stayed Under Luxury Tax Threshold

    Rangers, Mets, Red Sox Reportedly Shift Focus Away From Pursuit Of Shohei Ohtani

    Yankees, Padres Reportedly Far Apart In Juan Soto Trade Talks

    Reds Sign Nick Martinez

    Reds Sign Emilio Pagan

    Padres Continuing Juan Soto Trade Talks

    Marlins To Hire Gabe Kapler As Assistant General Manager

    Guardians Open To Offers On Emmanuel Clase

    Recent

    Blue Jays Have Received Trade Interest In Davis Schneider

    Latest On Braves’ Offseason Plans

    Angels, Jose Marte Agree To Minor League Deal

    Stearns: Mets Plan To Add An Outfielder, Stick With Internal Options At Third Base

    Royals Exploring Relief Market

    Astros GM: No Interest In Trading Alex Bregman

    Tigers Sign A.J. Hinch To Long-Term Extension

    Nationals Notes: GarcĂ­a, Outfield, Meneses, Robles

    Erick Fedde Nearing Deal With Unknown Team

    Diamondbacks Open To Adding Full-Time Designated Hitter

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Shohei Ohtani Rumors
    • Yoshinobu Yamamoto Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • 2023-24 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2024 Arbitration Salary Projections
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2023-24 Top 50 Free Agents List With Predictions
    • Free Agent Prediction Contest Leaderboard
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version