Phillies Offseason Talk

[Sgt PSN]

Milwaukee retired Mr. Belvedere's boss' number because they have no one other than Robin Yount and Paul Molitor to honor in Beer Town.

What about Hank Aaron?

They all played in Milwaukee but 2 different franchises.  The Brewers didn't retire Aaron's # did they? 

[PhillyPhreak54]

I think the Brewers did retire his number...but I think of him as an Atlanta Brave. I don't know how long he was in Milwaukee before they left to ATL thats why I didn't mention him.

Ed, whats the word on that Perkins dude? A throw in type guy or is he any good?

[Geowhizzer]

I think the Brewers did retire his number...but I think of him as an Atlanta Brave. I don't know how long he was in Milwaukee before they left to ATL thats why I didn't mention him.

Ed, whats the word on that Perkins dude? A throw in type guy or is he any good?

Aaron played for the Milwaukee Braves for 12 seasons (1954-1965), for the Atlanta Braves for 9 seasons (1966-1974) and for the Milwaukee Brewers for 2 (1975-1976).

[Sgt PSN]

I think the Brewers did retire his number...but I think of him as an Atlanta Brave. I don't know how long he was in Milwaukee before they left to ATL thats why I didn't mention him.

Ed, whats the word on that Perkins dude? A throw in type guy or is he any good?

Aaron played for the Milwaukee Braves for 12 seasons (1954-1965), for the Atlanta Braves for 9 seasons (1966-1974) and for the Milwaukee Brewers for 2 (1975-1976).

I knew he finished his career with the Brewers but I wasn't aware that they retired his #.  I guess it kind of makes sense if they did though simply for the fact that he spent well over half of his career playing for Milwaukee. 

[Geowhizzer]

Just checked:  Brewers did retire Aaron's number.

[SunMo]

Phils, Cubs talk Abreu-for-Prior swap

By MARCUS HAYES

hayesm@phillynews.com

DALLAS - Pat Gillick and Charlie Manuel want pitching for their team. They're not bashful about asking for it.

According to National League sources at the winter meetings here, the Cubs asked the Phillies yesterday what it would take to pry away two-time All-Star rightfielder, Gold Glove winner and reigning Home Run Derby champion Bobby Abreu.

The answer: Mark Prior.

The Cubs didn't say yes.

But they didn't say no, either; at least, they haven't so far.

The Cubs did say they would not consider dealing Carlos Zambrano, who is taking his turn atop their pecking order of promising young pitchers, following Kerry Wood and Prior, who is 25.

The session with the Cubs was one of several meetings conducted by Gillick, the Phillies' new general manager, and his brain trust, including Manuel. Gillick doesn't comment on specific ongoing negotiations, though he has said he thinks the Phillies need a top-of-the-line starter.

Yesterday, he said he and his entourage picked up with several teams where they left off during the GM meetings a month ago in Palm Springs, Calif.

"We're trying to get a feel for where people are now," Gillick explained on a relatively quiet first day of the meetings. That said, when the Phillies talk to teams now, they're getting down to business.

"We're past the generalities stage," Gillick said.

Making a deal such as Abreu-for-Prior would require more than just buying airplane tickets for the principals.

Abreu, 31, would have to waive his full no-trade clause, and, as of yesterday, the Phillies have not approached Abreu's camp about that, sources said. Of course, that doesn't preclude the Phillies from shopping first and asking later.

Also, the Phillies owe Abreu $31 million for the next two seasons. Prior, who has spent part of each of his three full seasons on the disabled list, has 1 year worth $3.1 million left on his contract, after which he is arbitration-eligible.

Prior, a righthander, is 41-23 with a 3.24 earned run average since hitting the big leagues in 2002. He finished third in Cy Young Award voting in 2003, his first full season. In his last 10 starts last season, Prior was 4-3, 3.73, with 76 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. Eight of those starts were quality starts, and none was appreciably awful.

If the Prior deal doesn't work out, the Phillies might try one that includes Abreu and Cubs workman starter Jerome Williams - but with serious sweeteners that could include lefty prospect Rich Hill, 25. Hill's status could be shifting from untouchable to movable. He went 11-4 with a 3.31 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 130 2/3 minor league innings last season, though he was 0-2 with a 9.13 ERA in 10 big-league appearances.

If nothing works out with the Cubs, the Phils could look elsewhere to trade for starting pitching, perhaps moving outfielder Jason Michaels to Pittsburgh for Mark Redman. Reportedly, interested parties include the Red Sox, who are willing to part with Matt Clement, and the Astros might deal Brandon Backe and setup man Chad Qualls.

While they're here, the Phillies - eager to include a lefty starter in their rotation - can at least ask the fire-selling Marlins if they will change their mind about trading Dontrelle Willis for prospects; inquire if the Orioles' Erik Bedard is truly unattainable for Abreu; and find out if the Oakland A's Barry Zito is available to them at all.

This rotation improvement is necessary mainly because enigmatic talent Vicente Padilla has not become a top-of-the-rotation starter. After an organizational meeting in October, the Phillies determined they would offer Padilla arbitration by Dec. 20. However, since Gillick came aboard last month, that evaluation has changed.

"It's too early to tell," Gillick said. "We've had a lot of discussions about Padilla."

Padilla, 28, who made $3.2 million last season, would likely command about $4 million in 2006, despite a second consecutive injury-marred campaign in which he was an inconsistent 9-12 with a 4.71 ERA. If the Phils retain him, he could be moved to the bullpen to compete for the setup job.

That job also could fall to Ryan Madson.

Manuel also said Madson would have a chance to join the starting rotation if the Phillies acquire significant bullpen help and don't flesh out their rotation.

For what it's worth, Manuel also said he'd consider Gavin Floyd for the back end of the rotation if Floyd earns it in spring training.

So, after Day 1 of baseball's annual jocular commingling, the Phillies remained aggressive with other teams while avoiding a free-agent talent pool Gillick characterized as tepid.

Phillers

Tomorrow is the deadline for teams to offer salary arbitration to players who declared for free agency. The Phils won't offer it to reliever Ugueth Urbina, who frequently struggled after the Phillies acquired him from Detroit for Placido Polanco on June 9. Urbina has since been arrested in his native Venezuela on attempted murder charges stemming from his alleged actions at a party in October. The Phillies also don't plan to offer centerfielder Kenny Lofton arbitration.

[Seabiscuit36]

I would schtein my pants if that went thru

[BigEd76]

Prior can't stay healthy for a full season, but you wonder how much of that is because of Dusty Baker's abuse of pitchers...

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

No doubt the injury bug hits Prior early and often.  Not sure how I would feel about that.


I would jizz my pants if they could pry away the D-Train from the Marlins, but I doubt that is a real possibility.

[henchmanUK]

Yeah, get Mark Prior. His team are Chicago's attendance champs, therefore, they must be the bestest.

[SunMo]

Yeah, get Mark Prior. His team are Chicago's attendance champs, therefore, they must be the bestest.

that makes no sense, and I know your a White Sox fan, but you went a long way to take a swipe at the Cubs and it still made no sense.

[henchmanUK]

Yeah, get Mark Prior. His team are Chicago's attendance champs, therefore, they must be the bestest.

that makes no sense, and I know your a White Sox fan, but you went a long way to take a swipe at the Cubs and it still made no sense.

Fair does. I guess the point I was trying to make was that I wouldn't get over-excited about Prior. Frankly I'd rather have Aaron Rowand.

[MDS]

its quite a risk to get injury lover like prior. but as this point, its worth it. id do it.

[NGM]

No doubt the injury bug hits Prior early and often.  Not sure how I would feel about that.


I would jizz my pants if they could pry away the D-Train from the Marlins, but I doubt that is a real possibility.

I know the Marlins are having a Liquidation sale but is D-Train even avaible?

[MDS]

nope. hes not going anywhere. unless we offer utley, madson, myers, howard, floyd, hammells, bourn and golson.