Michael Saunders will don a Phillies jersey for the first time this coming season after signing a one-year deal, but as the outfielder tells Ryan Lawrence of PhillyVoice.com, he was nearly a long-term piece for the Phillies back in 2009. Saunders was originally reported to be part of the return the Phillies would receive in trading Cliff Lee to the Mariners, and he was indeed on the verge of being included in that deal, he now says. “They said I was on the Sportscenter tracker in the trade where we were getting Cliff Lee in that three-way deal,” Saunders says. “So I called my agent and he had to do a little bit of digging, he made some calls, called me back and he said, ‘You know what, it’s time to to start packing your bags.” The outfielder goes on to explain that he was, however, a “last-minute subtraction” from the trade that ultimately proved to net a disappointing haul for the Phils. (Tyson Gillies, Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez went to Philadelphia in the deal, none of whom provided any real value to the team.)
Saunders also spoke about his second-half drop in production, and he believes his inability to work out early in the preceding offseason (due to 2015 knee surgery) led to a good deal of fatigue in the season’s second half. Lawrence’s column is full of quotes from the new Phillies’ right fielder, and I’d recommend a full read-through for those that are interested.
A few more notes from the NL East…
- MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki fields a number of roster-related question in his latest Phillies Inbox, addressing additional moves, the backup catcher’s role, J.P. Crawford’s timeline and some rumors that surrounded Cesar Hernandez earlier this winter. Zolecki notes that while further minor league deals could be handed out — he specifically notes that the bullpen could be an area of need — the Phils are likely done adding significant pieces this winter. He also calls Andrew Knapp the favorite to serve as Cameron Rupp’s backup in 2017, though veterans Ryan Hanigan and Bryan Holaday will do their best to give him a run for his money in Spring Training as non-roster invites.
- The Braves have an unexpectedly deep bullpen picture and a number of options heading into 2017, writes MLB.com’s Mark Bowman in a very comprehensive (and highly recommended) breakdown of the relief corps in Atlanta. Strong late-season performances from right-hander Jose Ramirez (who is out of minor league options) and waiver claim Chaz Roe give the Braves two intriguing arms to complement righties Jim Johnson, Arodys Vizcaino and Mauricio Cabrera. Ian Krol looks to have one spot locked down, while Paco Rodriguez could battle to be a second lefty in manager Brian Snitker’s bullpen. However, the Braves are also intrigued by Rule 5 pick Armando Rivero, who whiffed 105 batters in 67 2/3 Triple-A innings last season. And the team has plenty of experienced non-roster arms as well, including Eric O’Flaherty, Jordan Walden and Blaine Boyer. That latter of the trio is the likeliest to make the team’s Opening Day roster in Bowman’s estimation.
- Greg Holland is headed to the Rockies after agreeing to a one-year deal a couple of days ago, and FanRag’s Jon Heyman tweets that the Nationals are still in the market for a closer after watching the former Royals star head elsewhere. Washington was reportedly interested in Holland and one of the final teams in the mix, but it appears their search for a late-inning arm will continue. As Heyman points out, Sergio Romo is among the most experience right-handed options remaining on the market, while the trade market still has David Robertson and Alex Colome, though the latter is viewed as unlikely to be moved. FOX’s Ken Rosenthal wrote late last night that the Nationals aren’t as willing to spend on “lesser relievers” as they were on an elite arm like Kenley Jansen (to whom they offered more than $80MM). The Nats are also reluctant to trade prospects, he adds. MASNsports.com’s Pete Kerzel writes that it’s looking more and more likely that the Nats will go with internal options, as they don’t appear to have been especially active in attempting to trade for a late-inning arm due to the asking prices put forth by other teams.
Rivero could end up a nice snag.
The Braves are kind of like an old man down at the race track picking up discarded betting stubs off the ground, hoping to find a winner he can trade in for $2.
Dookie is a good name for a troll.
He’s a doctor
Sorry if it came off that way. I’m actually a Braves fan and I like the way Coppy works. This is not a bad strategy. It doesn’t cost them anything, and there is a chance it could pay off – just not necessarily a high chance, or a good payoff, but he is playing the odds and hoping volume works out versus putting all the resources into one bucket.
The problem is the FO is trying to work the rebuild/retool narrative and simultaneously offer the taxpayers the competitive team they promised for the new stadium- nostalgia signings, multiple waver claims, multiple 1 year vet (major and milb signings), trading a larger quantity of mlb ready talents for a few quality milb prospects- if you dont see the fire sale coming be ready. Its almost time to pull the trigger and cash in freeman for an ace.
Aww so sad. If you say anything negative about the braves, RBI will be there to make a comment about how you’re a troll. Surely no one could actually disagree with the great “Coppy” and his process. The braves are infallible.
I love Chesteraarthur.
Come on Chester….you can do better then that. I mean after all you seem to know more about everything baseball then anyone else. What I would really love to see from you is something more then condescending remarks…..so calling rbi a troll is like calling the kettle black now isn’t it.
Could you be any more of a douche?
How many times have we seen the FO find guys and get several months out of them and flip them? Several in the last few years. You throw enough pieces of spaghetti at the wall, a few will stick. Same with BP pieces.
Deep ain’t the exact word I’d use to describe the Braves pen. A lot of bodies sure, but I’d hardly label every one of those guys as a lock to have an MLB caliber season. I’d be happy to turn out wrong, but there’s a wiiiide range of possible outcomes for some of those names.
Braves will be in the mix for a wild card I think coppy will make a splash and go after someone when the right deal comes along
Somehow I doubt that their patchwork rotation will keep them in the mix for a WC spot
85% of teams will be in the mix for a WC spot all of them at the start of the season. Without 3 proven frontline starters competitive postseason games are not in the future.
How many of those “frontline starters” you speak of had a bad post season this past yr? I see 11 by my reckoning of frontline who had really bad numbers, including Porcello AL Cy winner. Scherzer wasn’t exactly lights out either. So I wouldn’t put so much stock in the term. Any pitcher having a good day has the ability to be lights out on any given day.
NOW the Nats are reluctant to trade prospects? After wildly overpaying for Eaton? Horse out of barn, Nats, no point slamming the door.
If I were the Nats, Colome is the BP arm I would go after. He’s good, young and comes with enough control to be around for their contending window. National fans, what would you give up for Colome?
I’m very concerned the asking price would be too high. I don’t want to ravage the farm system again, especially for a position as volatile as closer. I feel like we should’ve gotten Robertson too in the Eaton deal, but that’s how the cards fell. At this point our best option is to go in-house and maybe see about a trade down the line if that really isn’t working out. Some mix of Treinen, Kelley, and Solis should be fine hopefully.
What about Rizzo dealing for Rosenthal or Doolittle?
Hernandez >>>Romo! Room’s washed up!!
Romo’s is washed up!!