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Phillies Non-trade Rumors

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If there was a vote for Team Most Likely to Make a Trade as Spring Training comes to a close, it would likely be the Phillies that would win.  An excess of starting pitching and an ever-growing lack of depth in the bullpen makes the team a target for trade rumors.

But, according to general manager Pat Gillick, Phillies fans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a move.  Gillick told the local scribes that he doesn’t expect to make a deal for a reliever prior to the start of the season and that one of the excess starters will have to go to the bullpen.

Last year at this time, the Phillies most glaring need was a left-handed bat off the bench and just before the team came back north, Gillick was able to land David Dellucci.  So, despite Gillick’s pessimism, this situation bears watching over the next few days and weeks.

Don’t forget, Gillick sometimes has bouts of pessimism, after all, he is the one that in July of 2006 didn’t feel the Phillies could compete for anything until 2008.

Tom Goyne is the author of Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, a Phillies-centric blog and maintains the Phloggers’ Pheeds page, a source for the latest commentary from around the "phlogosphere".

Phillies Correspondent Found

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I am happy to announce that Tom Goyne is joining MLBTradeRumors.com as our Phillies correspondent.  Tom’s written for the Hardball Times, and he also has a popular Phillies blog called Balls, Sticks & Stuff.  Check it out.

Tom can be reached at ballssticksstuff at ballssticksstuff dot com.

Thanks to all those who applied, and hopefully you will apply again if I start up a separate Phillies blog.   

A Little Help: Phillies

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More rumors, news, and analysis is always a good thing.  Today I’m looking for someone to represent the Philadelphia Phillies.

What am I looking for in this person?

  • Solid writing skills and a style that fits with MLBTradeRumors.  Basically, I’ll know it when I see it.  I’m looking for the same type of analysis you see here every day.
  • Someone who can post up-to-the-minute Phillies rumors as they surface.  I want a person who follows the Phillies religiously and will have every source (traditional newspapers, high quality blogs, radio) covered.  It would make sense to have all the pertinent websites on an RSS reader.  You should be near a computer most times and able to hop on and write a post if something happens.
  • While this person is probably a Phils fan, objective analysis is preferred.  Additionally it would be nice to provide the local vibe/sentiment that people might otherwise not know about.  That might sound contradictory but I don’t think it is.
  • The benefit to you: a decent-sized audience and a chance to do a little sportswriting.  It could be a nice resume-builder and I would be happy to serve as a reference for you.  And I will give you some insight on how I do what I do, for what that’s worth.
  • Email me at mlbtraderumors@gmail.com if this interests you and explain why you’re the best candidate.  I’ll choose one person and unfortunately won’t be able to reply to all.  A sample post of a rumor/signing (whether fake or true) might help make your case.  Note: long-winded posts are not my style! Brevity is a plus – I like 3-4 paragraph posts.

More On Rowand Rumors

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Just a few tidbits regarding yesterday’s Sun-Times story that the White Sox may reacquire Aaron Rowand.

The Philadelphia Inquirer says that the White Sox have been scouting recent Phillies games, though Rowand did not play yesterday.  Additionally, the Delco Times speculates that the availability of Rowand is directly related to the fine play of Greg Dobbs this spring.  The waiver pickup could platoon with Jayson Werth in right field, with Shane Victorino moving to center.

In a related topic, Buster Olney said today that any Lieber/Rios talks are dead but that the Rangers might make sense for Lieber.

White Sox May Reacquire Rowand

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Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Sox GM Kenny Williams has been in talks with Pat Gillick regarding Aaron Rowand.  This is not the first time such a possibility has surfaced.  Southpaw Boone Logan may be among the relievers going to Philadelphia.

Even after the Freddy Garcia trade, a Philadelphia Inquirer article mentioned that Rowand remained a favorite of White Sox management.  If they can’t trade for him, there’s a chance they sign him as a free agent after the season.  Center field and left field are definitely holes for Chicago this season, but I don’t expect the Sox to rely on Erstad/Sweeney/Anderson/Podsednik all year long.

Given that a Rowand for Scott Linebrink trade was seriously under consideration, I wonder if the Sox would have to surrender a closing-worthy reliever like Mike MacDougal to seal the deal.

Lieber Showcase Goes Well

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One of the most likely players to be traded this spring is 37 year-old starter Jon Lieber.  He tossed a couple of scoreless frames yesterday in front of plenty of scouts.  Liebs makes $7.5MM in the last year of his deal.  If he can come up with 180 innings of 4.50 ball, he’s worth it as a fourth starter.  Were I the Phillies, I would not be in any rush to make a deal.  Use Adam Eaton out of the pen, sit on the surplus and enjoy it.  How many teams keep all five of their starters healthy the entire year?

A Lieber trade does appear inevitable though.  Aside from the Blue Jays, who else might be interested?  How about the Astros?  They’ve got a couple of decent relievers and the need for a solid starter.  The Rangers could get involved if Eric Gagne is healthy.  And the Twins might be a decent fit as well.

Phils Covet Rios

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Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi was pretty clear on his intentions: "we’re not trading Rios."  But what else is he going to say?  Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail has a source that says despite that declaration, Pat Gillick still wants him for the Phillies.

Blair says the Jays won’t trade Rios unless they’re getting Brett Myers or Cole Hamels in return. We’ll label that as educated speculation on Blair’s part.  Such a trade would make about as much sense as using Myers as closer.   

The much talked-about scenario involves the Phils somehow wresting Rios from the Jays without giving up either frontline starter, and then shipping Aaron Rowand to San Diego for Scott Linebrink.  I’m all for speculation, but the Jays know what they’ve got in Rios.  He doesn’t get traded if Jon Lieber is the centerpiece.

Howard Looking For Pujols Money?

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Jim Thome’s contract forced the Phillies to keep Ryan Howard in the minors after he had proven he was ready for the big leagues.  The situation is currently paying off, as they are capturing Howard’s peak seasons very cheaply. 

Yesterday they handed the zero-leverage Howard a record-tying contract, and he does not sound happy.  If you read between the lines of his comments, it’s obvious he feels he deserved more money.  Howard’s rejection of a one-year deal for more than $900K (as opposed to the renewal sans incentives he received) sends a bitter message.  Randy Miller, unlike some of the other Philly papers, snagged a more direct quote:

"Go ask them," Howard blurted out in a raised voice. "They’re the ones with all the money." 

Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that Howard is probably looking to exceed the seven-year, $100MM deal Albert Pujols has (which is a bargain for him).  Howard’s agent Casey Close told Baseball America they expect to surpass Chase Utley’s 7/85 contract if they go long-term.

Howard is an offensive superstar, no doubt, but there seems to be an unjustified sense of entitlement here.  Whether it’s driven by his agent or Howard is uncertain, but agents work for players.  Players with 1.5 seasons in the bigs have to pay their dues; the reward is being overpaid upon reaching free agency.  My gut says Howard will not sign a long-term deal or be a Phillie five years from now.

That’s not to say the Phillies shouldn’t consider locking him up despite the fact that Howard turned 27 last November.  They just have to be careful about projecting the 2014 performance of a player whose top comparables are Mo Vaughn (large decline at age 31, out of baseball at 35) and Travis Hafner (a DH).  Howard can become a free agent after the 2011 season, when he’s 31.

One final thought: I think the Phillies should’ve renewed Howard at $1.5-2MM; it would’ve sent him and the public a much better message about getting a long-term deal done.  $900K might tie a record, but only if you ignore inflation.  Jim Salisbury agrees, saying even another $100K would’ve made a symbolic difference.

Alex Rodriguez And The Cubs

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UPDATE: In a related story, Jon Heyman of SI.com lists a slew of teams that inquired about Rodriguez’s availability this winter: the Angels, Dodgers, White Sox, Cubs, Giants, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Indians.  Heyman says the White Sox and Dodgers were the most persistent.  None of the offers went anywhere given Rodriguez’s unwillingness to waive his no-trade clause.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News has an imposing mustache as well as some insight into Alex Rodriguez’s next possible destination.  The article involves Lou Piniella in his underwear as well as a lot of crying and one tender kiss.  I found it touching.

Anyway, Raissman believes, based on an upcoming HBO interview with Rodriguez, that a reunion with Lou Piniella in Chicago would be a dream come true for him.  Rodriguez responded to the idea thusly:

"He’s on a different team in a different league. My memories of Lou are in the present and the past, not the future."

This is not the first time Rodriguez has been connected to the Cubs.  Last July, later confirmed by other sources, Bleed Cubbie Blue broke news of the team’s trading deadline interest.

I would imagine that Rodriguez would not play shortstop for the Cubs for the duration of his 5+ year contract.  More likely to me: A-Rod plays shortstop for three seasons, through 2010. At that point, Derrek Lee’s contract will be up and Aramis Ramirez might be ready to shift to first base.  Ramirez is a Cub through 2011 or 2012.

Tim’s take – Chance of Alex Rodriguez signing with the Cubs in the ’07-’08 offseason: 15%.

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