07/08 Phillies Offseason Thread

[rjs246]

Cocaine.

[MDS]

poor people

[SunMo]

more Yocco's Hot Dog Stands than there should be in a town that big

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Don't hate on Reading.  It used to not be a dump.

[Rome]

Posted on Thu, Nov. 15, 2007


Who's On Third? Gillick to stand pat

By Todd Zolecki

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Pat Gillick said today the Phillies are not in the market for a third baseman.

His word comes after an espn.com report said the Phillies plan to make a lucrative multiyear offer to free-agent third baseman Mike Lowell.

"We're concentrating on pitching right now," Gillick said at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies introduced closer Brad Lidge.

Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said earlier this week that the money the Phillies have left to spend has been earmarked almost entirely for pitching.

Has that changed?

"No," Gillick said. "Why would it change?"

Perhaps because the Phillies received an increase in payroll?

"No," he said. "That hasn't changed. We're still concentrating on pitching. We prefer a starter and a bullpen piece. We'd prefer the starter."

Oh, goodie.

So, let's recap:

1. The Phillies lose Aaron Rowand, Michael Bourn and don't upgrade at third base.

2. The Phillies move Victorino to center and then have a platoon in right of Werth/X Man.

3. They possibly upgrade the pitching staff by acquiring Lidge and moving Myers back to the rotation.

4. They further look to get "more" pitching despite the fact that there is an almost complete lack of pitching that forced them to deal for Lidge and move Myers back to the rotation.  Meanwhile there are scads of position players both in the outfield (CF in particular including Rowand) plus Lowell & other third basemen who could be had via trade.

Got it.  NO PITCHING available so they go after pitching in a thin market.  Lots of position players available especially at positions of need - but no dice.

Phillies Baseball - catch it!


PS: The Yankees have spent more to sign a catcher, a closer and a third baseman in terms of payroll than several other teams spend on their entire 2008 payrolls.  Whoopie.

[SunMo]

don't pay too much attention to that Romey...he said Myers would stay in the bullpen a few days before he traded for Lidge.

if true, it's a terrible mistake, but i don't think it's true.  the rumor they made an offer for Lowell came from too many sources.

[Rome]

I had a few beers at the bar watching the Flyers tonight but not enough to get truly shtein-faced.

In other words, I didn't go the distance.

Me = Philadelphia Phillies

[SunMo]

forget the phillies...

you = philadelphia sports

[Rome]

Living off past glories and just coming up short?

Yeah - that about covers it.

[MDS]

the only thing im mad about is 3rd base. getting rid of rowand and replacing him with a werth/probably jenkins platoon will suffice. they need an upgrade at 3rd, or, they need another top of the line starter. they get that, who cares about getting more offense.

[ice grillin you]

theres like six teams bidding for lowell and two of them are the red sox and the yankees....there is absolutely no chance they sign lowell

[SD_Eagle5]

The more I hear about Lowell signing elsewhere the more I hope the bums pay Rowand. And I hope Gillick doesn't really think this is an upgrade:

Lieber could re-sign with Phillies, agent says
After injury-curtailed '07, pitcher believes he's not finished
By SCOTT LAUBER, The News Journal

Posted Friday, November 16, 2007

The Phillies tried to trade Jon Lieber before the 2007 season but couldn't. He made just 12 starts before incurring a season-ending foot injury June 23.

News Journal file/GINGER WALL
PHILADELPHIA -- When Jon Lieber underwent season-ending surgery on his right foot July 6, it was widely presumed his Phillies career had ended.

Maybe not.

With the Phillies shopping for another starter to add depth to their rotation, Lieber's agent said Thursday the 37-year-old right-hander wants to pitch in 2008 and hasn't ruled out re-signing with the Phillies.

"I know he's not happy, at this point in his career, with how things ended last year," said Rex Gary, who represents Lieber and new Phillies closer Brad Lidge. "He wants to show somebody, wherever it is, that he's the pitcher he was when the Phillies signed him."

Assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies would be open to discussing a deal with Lieber, although Gary declined to say if Lieber would be willing to sign a one-year contract with a low base salary and significant performance bonuses.

Lieber signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Phillies before the 2005 season and went 17-13 with a 4.20 ERA that year. But he went 12-17 with a 4.87 ERA over the past two seasons, and the Phillies tried to trade him last winter. Lieber made just 12 starts last season before rupturing a tendon in his right foot June 23 at Cleveland.

Freeing Iguchi

The Phillies released second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, making him a free agent. Iguchi's initial contract with the Chicago White Sox allowed him to elect free agency after his third season in the majors. The Phillies almost certainly will lose Iguchi but won't receive draft-pick compensation.

"He thinks he can get a second base job someplace," general manager Pat Gillick said, "and he and his agent are probably correct in that assumption."

Unwounded knee

Nearly seven weeks after having surgery to fix torn cartilage in his right knee, Lidge walked with one crutch Thursday. He said he'll be cleared to shed crutches next week and will begin his annual offseason throwing program on schedule in the first week in January.

Lidge, acquired last week from Houston in a five-player trade, will wear No. 54.

Inside pitches

If the Phils don't re-sign free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand, Gillick said they'll look for a lefty-hitting outfielder to split time in right field with Jayson Werth. Greg Dobbs and newly acquired Eric Bruntlett also can play the outfield. ... Ace lefty Cole Hamels received two third-place votes in the NL Cy Young Award balloting.

Contact Scott Lauber at slauber@delawareonline.com.

[PhillyGirl]

Good God. They'd better not re-sign Leiber.

[Rome]

I was this close.  THIS CLOSE!





I should have capped him when I had the chance.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Lieber > Eaton?  Close call.