06/07 Phillies Offseason Thread

[PhillyPhreak54]

Damn - and I thought we were tasteless.

Yankees MB

[MDS]

Joe Torre murdered Corey Lidle

[PhillyPhreak54]

ESPN.com on how his pops found out

[Sgt PSN]

I didn't find out about this until a little after 6pm when I showed up to work at the bar I p/t at and saw it on the tube.  Not much to say really except that it sucks. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

If the Phillies didn't trade him to the Yanks, he's probably alive right now.

How long until the media blames Philly for this, too?

[ice grillin you]

agreed, but no one can ever replace your father...no money in the world.

Its just sad.


but TO has a kid too ya know

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Everyone knows TO's gay and the kid is actually Billy McMullen's.

[PhillyGirl]

agreed, but no one can ever replace your father...no money in the world.

Its just sad.


but TO has a kid too ya know

And thank goodness he gets almost no exposure to his dad. One of the reasons he tried to off himself.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Hmmm....Phils hire 3 ex-managers as coaches;

Art Howe - 3rd base & infield
Davey Lopes - 1st base & OF & baserunning
Jimy Williams - bench coach

Kind of disappointed that they didn't hire Juan Samuel.

[mpmcgraw]

Grit, grit, grit, veterans, veterans, veterans!   

[MDS]

All those guys sucked in the NL as managers. I'm quite optimistic.

[Rome]

All those guys sucked in the NL as managers. I'm quite optimistic.

Jimy Williams finished 2nd SEVEN times in his managerial career.

SEVEN.

You gotta love the irony.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Phillies eyeing Sheffield, Soriano

By RANDY MILLER
phillyBurbs.com

With Pat Burrell in the doghouse and on the trading block, the Phillies are preparing to make a run at adding better protection for cleanup hitter Ryan Howard, who led the majors with 58 home runs in 2006.

Topping their wish list are two big names likely headed for free agency: New York Yankees right fielder/first baseman Gary Sheffield and Washington Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano.

"Pat has had a difficult time protecting Howard, so we're going to have to continue to make an adjustment in that area," Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said Monday.

Soriano, 30, probably will be too pricey for the Phillies, but signing Sheffield cheap for one or two years seems a viable option.

Sheffield, 37, has a $13 million club option for 2007, but the Yankees aren't expected to pick it up. A nine-time All-Star with 455 career homers, Sheffield missed most of this season with a broken wrist. In 39 games, he hit .298 with 6 homers and 25 RBIs.

If the Yanks decline Sheffield's option, the Phils' biggest competition likely will be Atlanta. Sheffield enjoyed his time in Atlanta in 2002-03 and has a great relationship with Braves manager Bobby Cox.

The Phils also are very high on Soriano, who hit .277 with 46 homers, 95 RBIs and 41 steals in 2006, but they're not prepared to offer anything close to the $15 million per that the Dominican could get on the open market.

Regardless of whether the Phillies land Sheffield, Soriano or someone else, they're looking to peddle Burrell, who batted .258 with 29 homers and 95 RBIs in a disappointing '06 season. Finding a taker won't be easy, though, as Burrell has two years, $27 million and a no-trade clause in his contract. As of now, no decision has been made on how much of his contract the Phils are willing to eat.

If Burrell stays, the Phils likely will look to move center fielder Aaron Rowand, who is a year away from free agency.

Meantime, the Phillies also will be looking to upgrade their starting pitching and bullpen in an offseason in which the free agent list won't be impressive.

They wouldn't mind going into 2007 with the same starting rotation they had at the end of this season, but retaining lefties Jamie Moyer and Randy Wolf are iffy.

Moyer has a $4.75 million player option for 2007, but is expected to decline it and ask for more money to leave his family in Seattle. The Phils may not go higher because Moyer will turn 44 in November. This year, he earned $5.5 million while going 11-14 with a 4.30 ERA, including 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA in eight starts for the Phils.

If the price is right, the Phillies also will attempt to bring back Wolf, who can become a free agent only months after his return from July 30 return from Tommy John surgery.

As for the bullpen, the top priority here is finding a veteran setup man for All-Star closer Tom Gordon.

"It all goes back to pitching," Gillick said. "Look at Detroit and how they've won. It's two difficult areas, but two areas we'll have to address."

Phillers

Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. will represent the Phillies today at Cory Lidle's memorial service in Covina, Calif. Second baseman Chase Utley and outfielder Shane Victorino also plan to attend. ... Former Phils first base coach Marc Bombard is a candidate to be hired by Tampa Bay as manager at Triple-A Durham. ... Bill Dancy, not returning as third base coach, is expected to accept a minor league position with the Phils.

Randy Miller can be reached at randarino@aol.com

1. Um, Sheffield? Not sure I like that.

2. Soriano? YES!

3. I hope they trade Burrell. I think mp's going to jizz himself when he sees they could end up keeping Pat and trading Rowand.

4. I'd like to see Moyer come back but if he wants more money - peace out, gramps.

[Sgt PSN]

I want Dennis Green to manage the Phils next year.  After watching his PC last night I'm salivating at the thought of him giving 162 just like it after every game next year.

[BigEd76]

WIP this morning:  all three of the new hires are still faster than Burrell