The latest on Philadelphia…
- Free-agent third baseman Mike Moustakas “is very much on the Phillies’ radar,” Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia writes. The 31-year-old Moustakas would provide an affordable, short-term Band-Aid at third for the Phillies as they continue to wait for prospect Alec Bohm to take the reins at the position. And Moustakas would be a major upgrade over Maikel Franco, who, after disappointing yet again in 2019, now looks like a surefire non-tender or trade candidate.
- Signing Moustakas to handle third for what would presumably be a reasonable sum would make it easier for the Phillies to dedicate a significant amount of cash to their uninspiring starting staff. Indeed, the likelihood is that the Phillies will use most of their spending room on pitching, according to Salisbury, who adds that the club will at least participate in the sweepstakes for the No. 1 starter available, Gerrit Cole. Signing Cole, a qualifying offer recipient, would cost the Phillies their second-highest draft pick and $500K in international bonus pool space (but more importantly an enormous sum of money). While general manager Matt Klentak seems averse to surrendering draft capital for a free agent, Salisbury contends he’d be willing to do it for the right player. That could prove to be Cole, who – like now-Phillie Bryce Harper a year ago – may be in position to sign the richest contract of anyone on the open market. While the Phillies gave Harper a 13-year contract last offseason, there’s at least some hesitance on their part to make an overly long commitment to a pitcher. “Pitching is fragile and if you’re relying on free-agent starting pitching to build your organization, you go into that knowing you may be left disappointed at some point in that contract,” Klentak said. “Even the Phillies during their great run from ’07 to ‘11, some of the more notable pitchers (Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee) that they brought in were really good at the front end of those contracts and not healthy at the back end of those contracts.”
- The Phillies’ roster remains a work in progress, but they already have their manager in place for 2020. The club hired former Marlins/Yankees skipper Joe Girardi a couple weeks ago, and doing so unsurprisingly cost Philly a decent chunk of money. The Phillies awarded the onetime World Series-winning skipper a three-year deal worth roughly $11MM in guaranteed money, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. That total falls just shy of the $12MM the Angels handed new manager Joe Maddon, Heyman notes.
The Phillies are the team that can most benefit from free agency, its a shame their greedy scumbag owners refuse to spend the money needed to take their team to the next level.
There’s no logical reason at all that the Phillies shouldn’t get Rendon/Donaldson, Bumgarner. Kendrick and Hamels, but will they outspend? Nope.
Greedy, scumbag owners? John Middleton would go broke if it meant bringing a World Series to Philadelphia. Have you paid any attention the last couple of years? You don’t remember the “stupid money” comment. Or the 330mil they just gave Bryce Harper? 90mil to Arrieta? 80mil to Cutch? What’s your problem dude?
You invented contract amounts for 2/3 of those players.
My bad Popeye, 80mil to Arrieta and 70mil to Cutch
It’s called stupidity. He is a fart huffer for the greedy players.
They just spent almost 500 million last off season. They have no problems spending money.
After over a decade of not having one, I had to create a username to point out what a dumb comment this is.
The Phillies refuse to spend the money needed??? Does Bryce Harper’s 13 year contract not directly contradict your idiotic point of view?
After a decade that’s the username you settled on?
Jk
Steeeerike Four…You’re out!!!!!
He has some major issues.
Bad take
I want to give you the benefit of the doubt, strike four, and figure what you really meant to say was a commentary on spending wisely because the Phillies have been spending money like it’s going out of style. You can’t possibly be concerned about this offseason because it JUST started.
Sign Moose, Z. Wheeler, C. Hamels. Cast a wide net on low risk/low guarantee relievers like T. Clippard, G. Holland & S. Romo and several bounceback minor league deals to guys like B. Bach, B. Morrow & T. Rosenthal- hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with one or two of them. Convert VV (closer) & N.Pivetta (swingman) to the ‘pen. Trade O. Herrera, N. Williams & a prospect or two (not named Bohm or Howard) for either S. Marte, K. Kiermaier or B. Buxton. Fill out the bench with B. Miller, T. Frazier & B. Hamilton.
If you miss on any of the FA’s, spend that money on a bad contract like Darvish, Eovaldi or W. Davis to aquire a superstar like Bryant, Betts or J. Gray.
See I’ve got it all figured out.
Bryant and Harper buddies for life in Philly?
I agree with a lot of this but the trade scenarios won’t work. No one wants Odubel, Nick Williams isn’t worth much anymore. And Buxton would cost a TON. Marte would cost more than that too. Maybe they could get Kiermaier but I don’t think so.
Odubel is a much better hitter than his recent stats show and is a plus defender. If they included A. Medina & B. Stott in any of those theoretical trades AND take on a bad contract, I think it would be enough or close to it.
Seriously though what is Strike Four’s problem? A guy created an account after 10 years- within 10 minutes of his post- just to say what an utterly stupid & bizarre comment that was. My wife has asked me 3 times what’s wrong with me because of the look on my face when I read that. I seriously might lose sleep.
Have you watched Odubel? He’s never present. He’s always looking aloof like he has no idea what’s going on. And after what happened this season, idk. He just doesn’t have any value anymore. He may end up getting dropped.
No one wants Odubel. He is a bone head who has no idea about baserunning, and doesn’t pay attention. I’d be surprised if he’s on a major league club to start the season
Darvish’s contract is fine-to-good.
yea, your first sentence is solid–my wishlist also includes Moose, Wheeler, Hamels, and I’m gonna add Porcello to that list as he is my Lance-Lynn-bounceback-bargain signing for 2020. I think it is more than possible that the Phils get 3 guys from this relatively deep class of FA starters to fill their rotation needs, and I’m predicting one starter from the QO status (Wheeler), and two guys without QOs attached (Hamels and Porcello).
But yea, your trade proposals though??? Gonna be tough to turn mediocre guys into any solid return, as the rest of the league is also well-aware of how meh some of these Phillies players are. You’ll get a few lotto-pick prospects, but not much else. Similarly, a team will not attach one of these superstars to a trade package just to shed salary, particularly those Cubs and Red Sox examples.
Hey, it’s MLBTR, where baseball dreamers go to dream. I could see the BoSox parting with Betts/Eovaldi for Williams, Medina, Stott and a couple of lottery tickets. They would shed almost 50mil off their figure. Betts is amazing but hes a 1 year rental.
Appreciate the feedback guys.
One year, idc how good they are, I’m not giving them a haul.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the following;
1. See if the Tigers would take Franco,
Hernandez and Pivetta (and maybe some
cash if needed), for Boyd
2. Sign Moustakas to 3B on a 2 yr deal,
with a buy out after year one to move
Bohm up, if he is ready
3. Sign Bumgardner and Wheeler or Hamels
4. Move Kingery to 2B / Utilize Haseley
in CF
Rotation is Nola, Wheeler or Hamels, Bumgardner, Boyd and Eflin. (not exactly in this order)
Just tossing some ideas around.
the Tigers dont want spare parts for Boyd
Are you freakin’ kidding?
Bryce says Hi ….
“I want my trophy back…unless I have to pay tax on the payroll.” – John Middleton
Gerrit Cole AND Anthony Rendon or stay in Clearwater.
The rest is garbage.
The only garbage here is your tired old routine criticizing Middleton for not buying the top two FA every year. Last year you (under the “Casey’s Partner” username) said Harper AND Machado or bust. Now you’re saying Cole AND Rendon. Next year you’ll be crying for Betts AND Springer. Does it ever end? Do you never have anything worthwhile to contribute to these conversations? Do you even follow the Phillies, or do you spend too much time trolling to fit a game or two into your schedule?
Way to bust Casey’s Partner’s sneak attack under his new troll name
Oh Casey … there you are
Phillies have typically spent money on talent. But I don’t see Cole, Rendon, Stras, or JD in their realistic future. They have bombed on the draft so if they really don’t want to give up picks, they may look to trading some of those turds. Maybe Moose, Keuchel. I am not expecting a grandiose FA season.
Ehhh I think they get one QO’d arm and I think it’s Wheeler. I don’t buy Klentak’s recent dribble about losing draft picks. Of course the picks are important, but if you want to WIN NOW, as he said at at Girardis PC, then you have to go for top talent.
So injury prone and they got murdered by injuries this year. I can seem them pulling the trigger on a Bauer trade before signing Wheeler. Depends on what they do at 3rd too. If they plan to use Bohm there or in LF.
Moose is gonna want 2 years minimum
And they could have gotten someone for him when the padres were looking for a third baseman