07/08 Phillies Offseason Thread

[Geowhizzer]

From Ken Rosenthal:

The Phillies are one of the teams interested in free-agent right-hander Kris Benson, who is expected to throw for teams in Phoenix around Dec. 17. Benson, 33, underwent surgery last March to repair a partially torn rotator cuff. The Orioles declined the $7.5 million option on his contract, preferring to pay him a $500,000 buyout instead.

[PhillyPhreak54]

His wife and the Philly media? Especially if (once) the fans turn on him?

Gold.

[Geowhizzer]

Todd Zolecki also says Benson is a good bet, once the Phils watch him throw.

Here's his possibilities in a rundown:

The Phillies have interest in free-agent righthander Kris Benson, according to a team source, but they want to see him throw first. They are expected to watch him later this month to make sure he has fully recovered from shoulder surgery, which forced him to miss the entire 2007 season.

Gillick said the Phillies had no interest in Garcia or Lieber, but would not rule out Colon, Jennings or Benson. The Phillies clearly have some interest in Benson. They also have contacted Colon's agent.

So word that the Texas Rangers might be looking to deal third baseman Hank Blalock can't totally be dismissed, although the Phillies are reluctant to trade top prospects like Carlos Carrasco and Josh Outman and Gillick said finding position-player help has been pushed to the side to accommodate their need for pitching.

Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva remain on the market, but Gillick said "we'd go more than two years on some guys, but you get into four and five we've got a little bit of a problem with that."

The Phillies had targeted lefthander Randy Wolf, who just agreed to a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres. Gillick seemed perturbed with the way things evolved with Wolf.

The Phillies aren't expected to make a play for any of the stud pitchers who could be available via trade - Johan Santana, Dontrelle Willis, Erik Bedard, Dan Haren or Joe Blanton - because it would require too much top talent in return, and the Phillies don't have much to give. Livan Hernandez does not seem to be high on their list. Pitchers like Anthony Reyes or Julian Tavarez could be had in a trade.

[Geowhizzer]

Paul Hagen says Phils aren't out of the Rowand picture yet.

The Phillies, meanwhile, are believed to be willing to overpay for a 3-year deal. And there is some thought that, all things being equal, he'd like to return.

Also mentioned in that article:

While the word on the baseball grapevine is that the Seattle Mariners are the front-runners for righthander Hiroki Kuroda, of Japan's Hiroshima Carp, reportedly increasing their offer to $44 million for 4 years, the Phillies haven't completely given up on signing the star Japanese free agent. The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Cubs and Royals are also thought to have serious interest.

[ice grillin you]

hagen is a farging idiot

if the money is right i think taking a chance on benson is a good move

[SD_Eagle5]

Benson isn't much of an upgrade over Eaton. And I don't care what his wife looks like she's the most annoying bitch on the planet.

[Rome]

Ann Coulter says "hi".

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Ann Coulter says "hi".

There aren't enough >'s to describe Anna Benson vs. Ann Coulter.

Same goes for Kris Benson and Adam Eaton.

[Don Ho]

Ann Coulter says "hi".

There aren't enough >'s to describe Anna Benson vs. Ann Coulter.

Same goes for Kris Benson and Adam Eaton.

[Rome]

Serious rumors all over the place about Bedard/Tejada for Victorino/Kendrick + prospects.  It's been on WIP apparently as well.

I would ejaculate all over myself if that went down.

[MDS]

That leaves a giant hole in the OF, but Bedard > Kendrick and the offense wouldn't need much else. Probably would have to sign Rowand and then go with a Jenkins/Werth platoon in RF.

Rollins
Tejada
Utley
Howard
Burrell
Rowand
RF
Ruiz
P

Hamels
Myers
Bedard
Geezer
Eaton?

Jizz.

[ice grillin you]

i havent heard anything about that on wip...probably because its completely made up...the phillies dont have the prospects to get that deal done...

for example the mets have offered heilman....gomez and humber for just bedard

victorino kendrick and lets say carrasco for berard AND tejada

not happening

it would be ridiculous....the phillies would have to really screw up to not make the world series if that happened...when something is to good to be true it usually is

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Or, Tejada and Bedard aren't as good as you think and would bust as Phillies anyway.

[Rome]

The WIP thing was second-hand knowledge reported on different boards, IGY.  Since I wouldn't listen to it unless someone had a gun pointed at my meatcicle, I wouldn't know if it was talked about there.

As far as what package of players the Phillies are offering, Victorino & Kendrick are both the centerpieces but the minor league talent wasn't disclosed.  I would guess at least two or three of their top ten prospects would be included considering Victorino is mediocre and Kendrick is as well.

That's why they call it the hot stove, though.  More bullshtein spills over than not.

Oh, and the thinking behind Tejada is strictly a salary move.  No one wants to pay that.  The understanding I have is that any team who wants Bedard HAS to take Tejada and his lotto contract.

[BigEd76]

Gillick says the Phils are out of the Kuroda bidding but they might bring Glendon Rusch in as a non-roster invitee.  WORLD SERIES!