06/07 Phillies Offseason Thread

[PhillyPhreak54]

Rowand, Phils disagree on pay, but not his play
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer

Centerfielder Aaron Rowand likely will be running into walls and sacrificing his body with the Phillies next season, even though he and the club declined their options for 2007 yesterday.

All that means is that Rowand is eligible for salary arbitration.

Rowand, who remains under the Phillies' control, declined a $3.25 million player option, feeling secure that he is worth more. The Phillies declined their $5 million club option, figuring he is worth less.

It's a risk for both sides, but a much smaller one for Rowand.

There's a good chance the Phillies and Rowand will try to negotiate a salary between the two options. If that doesn't work, they will go to arbitration.

"It is what it is," Rowand said last night at a Police Athletic League charity event in the city.

The 29-year-old Rowand hit .262 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs in 405 at-bats last season. He also had two stints on the disabled list, but the Phillies love his energy and defensive capabilities, and they think he can be much better at the plate than he showed last season. Just about the only way Rowand won't return to the Phillies is if they trade him. The Phils are looking to sign free-agent outfielder Alfonso Soriano and eventually trade leftfielder Pat Burrell.

There is no truth to the rumor circulating yesterday that the Phillies and New York Yankees had worked out a deal for Gary Sheffield, who will make $13 million next season. The Phils will pursue Soriano first. They also have seen Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura, although it's unclear how much interest they have. To gain negotiating rights with Iwamura, the Phillies would have to win a bid with his team, the Yakult Swallows. According to JapanBall.com, Iwamura hit .311 with 32 home runs and 77 RBIs last season.

Rollins - SS
Victorino - RF
Utley - 2B
Howard - 1B
Soriano - LF
Iwamura - 3B
Rowand - CF
Ruiz - C

Yes, please.

[PhillyGirl]

The best part of that post is that mpmcgraw is going to cry over it.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Even more when he reads the Gillick quote at the end of this one...

Phils contact 'dozen or so' free agents
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com

The shopping season has opened. General manager Pat Gillick yesterday said the Phillies have contacted "a dozen or so" players who have filed for free agency since the filing period began Saturday. Teams cannot discuss terms until Nov. 12.

That doesn't mean the Phillies can't talk among themselves. From Tuesday through noon Friday, the Phillies will convene to nail down their opinions of which free agents are worth what. Manager Charlie Manuel, his recast coaching staff and the team's scouts will meet with Gillick and assistants Mike Arbuckle and Ruben Amaro Jr. to gear up for the general managers' meetings Nov. 13-17 in Naples, Fla.

Though Gillick would not confirm it, team and league sources have indicated that their No.1 target will be outfielder Alfonso Soriano. They want his power bat to protect young lefty slugger Ryan Howard. Sources said the Phillies could offer as much as $15 million a season over 5 years, though published reports say Soriano will want $17 million per over 7 years, a deal like Carlos Beltran got from the Mets 2 years ago.

Expect the Phillies to let the market set itself before plunging into a bidding war for Soriano. Published reports have the well-heeled Mets both interested and uninterested in Soriano.

The Phillies also have considerable interest in Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura. Iwamura, 27, a lefthanded hitter, batted at least .300 with 30 homers the last three seasons for the Yakult Swallows. He is also drawing interest from the Indians, Red Sox and Padres. All are expected to bid for Iwamura.

In the posting system, teams submit silent bids to the major league commissioners' office. The highest bidder has 30 days to negotiate a contract with the player.

Gillick and Manuel are fans of Japanese players. In 2000, while he was running the Mariners, Gillick signed superstar outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. Manuel is a legend from his playing days in Japan from 1976-81, four of which were spent with Yakult.

If they fail to land Soriano, the Phillies' main backup plan is to try to trade for Yankees rightfielder Gary Sheffield. The Yankees are expected to pick up his $13 million option by the deadline Saturday, $4.5 million of which is deferred.

Sheffield, who will be 38 this month, has said he wants a contract extension through 2009. If they trade for him, the Phillies are considering a 1-year extension with an option for 2009.

The Yanks want pitching.

The Phillies likely would be willing to part with disappointing 2002 first-round pick Gavin Floyd. Floyd, 23, bombed out of the majors the last two seasons and struggled at Triple A both years. He has pitched well in three of four starts in the Arizona Fall League.

Sources say the Phillies also could consider moving 36-year-old starter Jon Lieber, who is due to earn $7.5 million. He was a disappointing 9-11 with a 4.93 earned-run average this season, arguably his worst full season in the majors. The Phillies shopped Lieber last season. The Yankees expressed regret at letting him get away after the 2004 season.

With intriguing, slimmer veterans such as Jeff Suppan and Miguel Batista on the free-agent market, Lieber could be replaced for similar, if not less, money.

If Beltran's deal is the template for Soriano, significantly, it also includes a full no-trade clause. If Soriano wants a full no-trade clause, the Phillies will balk. Gillick had a hard time trading Bobby Abreu to the Yankees because of such a clause, and he hasn't been able to move Pat Burrell in part because of Burrell's no-trade. He inherited both of those contracts when he took over last year.

If Soriano will bend, the Phillies will be interested.

"What I don't like is a complete no-trade to [all] 29 other teams," Gillick said. "If it was a no-trade to six or eight teams, we would consider that."

If they land Soriano the Phillies could find themselves saddled with an oversized payroll for 2007, especially if they cannot move Burrell.

"Those are challenges we'd have to work through," Gillick admitted. "There are different ways to do that."

Ways such as backloading a big deal to Soriano? Deferring money in that contract?

"Perhaps," Gillick said. "Also, possibly, moving other players."

Which, of course, optimally means Burrell. He plays leftfield, the position to which Soriano, formerly a second baseman, was switched this season. If both are Phillies, Soriano would play rightfield.

Failure to sign Soriano or land Sheffield could move the Phillies to pursue Cubs free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

Right back at ya

As expected, aggressive centerfielder Aaron "Crash" Rowand declined the player option that would have given him a small raise. It was less expected that the Phillies declined their option that would have given him a big raise.

Rowand, who made $3.25 million last season, had his agent, Craig Landis, e-mail the Phillies yesterday to inform them that he was declining the $3.5 million option he held. They shot one back, telling Landis they weren't picking up the $5 million option they held.

Rowand is under the Phillies' control, since he has 1 year remaining of arbitration; those hearings start Feb. 1. It sounds as if the Phillies don't plan to trade Rowand and start Shane Victorino in centerfield, even they land an outfielder and cannot trade Burrell.

"He's going to be here," Gillick said. "It's just that there's a difference of opinion of what his compensation should be."

FWIW - Randy Miller was on WIP with Macnow last night and said that the Phils have no interest in Aramis Ramirez because he wants too much.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Who's at the hot corner?

By RANDY MILLER
phillyBurbs.com

During their organizational meetings last month, the Phillies' brass discussed their biggest needs, then drew up a wish list. After deciding they most needed lineup protection for young slugger Ryan Howard, general manager Pat Gillick and his confidants examined the top power hitters headed for free agency.

They like third baseman Aramis Ramirez's power, but not enough to pay anything close to $15 million per season.

They like outfielder Carlos Lee's bat, but determined he's more suited to being a designated hitter in the American League due to his poor defense.

When the conversation turned to left fielder Alfonso Soriano, everyone was unified. The Phils love his bat, love his speed and love what he brings to the clubhouse.

When the Washington Nationals passed on dealing Soriano at the trade deadline this summer, his teammates celebrated by popping champagne corks.

So Soriano is the Phils' first offseason priority, Ramirez is a long shot unless his expected price tag drops (highly unlikely), and Lee definitely will play elsewhere.

The Phillies will be looking for third base help this winter. However, they're after someone with a little power to share the position with slick-fielding switch-hitter Abraham Nunez, not a big-money player.

Look for the Phils to make a run one of two unheralded veterans who shed reputations as being nothing more than utility players in 2006, Wes Helms and Mark DeRosa.

Helms hit .329 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs in 240 at-bats for Florida, while DeRosa batted .296 with 13 homers, 74 RBIs and 40 doubles in 520 at-bats for Texas.

The Phillies are expected to make a serious bid for Helms, who is their first option. He'll likely be less expensive and they believe he has more power than DeRosa, whom they also like a lot. It's worth noting that DeRosa was a two-sport star at Penn, so perhaps Phils president/Penn grad David Montgomery will do some urging. (Remember Doug Glanville?)

Besides Ramirez, the Phils aren't hot for two free agent third basemen who could command plenty of interest this winter, Akinori Iwamura and Pedro Feliz. Iwamura is expected to arrive from Japan this winter, and rumors of the Phils being interested are off base. They are looking for more power at third, and Iwamura figures to be a slap hitter in bigger major league parks. Also, the Phillies aren't real high on Feliz, who could get big bucks after belting 24 homers and driving in 98 runs for San Francisco in 2006.

Meantime, center fielder Aaron Rowand declined a $3 million player option yesterday, then the Phils countered by passing on a $5 million club option. With Rowand still a year away from free agency, he'll now become an arbitration-eligible player. The Phillies still are uncertain if Rowand is in their long-term plans.

If they land Soriano, the Phils will go all-out to find a taker for left fielder Pat Burrell, who has a no-trade clause, and perhaps also send Rowand packing for bullpen help.

The Phillies aren't opposed to heading into 2007 with Soriano in left, Shane Victorino in center and Jeff Conine getting most of the time in right in a platoon with Michael Bourn.

As for Burrell, the Phils have received no trade interest thus far, but possibly that's because everyone is more focused on free agency right now.

The Phillies appear willing to pick up half of the remaining $27 million Burrell is owed over the next two seasons and expect to receive serious interest from possible suitors by the start of the Dec. 4 Winter Meetings.

E-Mail: RANDY MILLER

[MDS]

Yes!! Jeff Conine in RF for 2 months while Rowand recovers from a broken ankle.

[mpmcgraw]

I hope Utley kept his insurance. 

[BigEd76]

Howard crushed a HR in today's game vs Japan





SUPA POWA #1

[Eaglez]

They need to move Lieber. I don't know if there would be any takers but some bullpen help would be nice compenation for him.

[MDS]

Is the sun shining or something? Those kids there can't see anything!

[ice grillin you]

the time to move leiber was/is at the trade deadline....no one would want him for anything more than a playoff chase run

[PhillyPhreak54]

Agreed.

Its more beneficial to keep him now. He's in his last year of the deal and he is going to be the #3 starter. For a #3, he's good. Especially if he is the Lieber of 2005. Maybe he'll be even better because its his walk year.

[Rome]

Japanese broads love the cocojin.

[mpmcgraw]

Even if we do add Soriano, I still think we need another #2/3 type pitcher.  Wolf would be ok, but I think he is probably going to get a decent contract since he is one of the best lefties out there outside of Zito. 

Meche would be nice.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Burrell would waive no-trade in deal to Frisco
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com

Things might be getting easier for Pat Gillick.

Since Gillick was hired a year ago, the Phillies' general manager has been trying to trade leftfielder Pat Burrell. The main obstacle: Burrell's full no-trade clause.

To this point, Burrell has indicated that he would waive the clause only in deals that would send him to New York or Boston.

The Phillies can add San Francisco to that list.

Burrell's representatives indicated yesterday that he would accept a trade to the Giants. That team could ask Burrell to switch back to first base, the position he played in 2000.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel last night reiterated his opinion that Burrell, drafted as a third baseman, could switch to first despite having made himself into a good leftfielder. A switch might be necessary, since Burrell's outfield range has been limited the past two seasons by a foot injury.

"Pat definitely has the work ethic," Manuel said. "He has more athleticism than a lot of first basemen I've seen."

In trade, the Giants might want the Phillies, who are looking for bullpen help, to take closer Armando Benitez, who comes with plenty of baggage: a $7.6 million salary for this season, the last on his contract; his bad knees, which limited him to 41 games this season; and a poor reputation as a teammate.

Burrell, 30, is owed $13 million this season and $14 million next season. He hit .258 with 29 homers and 95 RBI this season but he struggled in the clutch.

Benitez, 34 today, had 17 saves in 25 chances and was 4-2 with a 3.52 ERA. A cortisone injection into his bursitis-stricken left knee delayed his season and he was shut down and placed on the 60-day disabled list Sept. 13 to begin a rehabilitation program on his arthritic right knee, which apparently is progressing nicely.

"It's an arthritic knee so anything can change, but we are pleased with his progress," Giants athletic trainer Dave Groeschner told the San Jose Mercury News.

Burrell for Benitez? Do it.

Not so much for Armando but just to get Patty outta here.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Catching may be in the hands of Ruiz, Coste

By RANDY MILLER
phillyBurbs.com

There's been talk that Johnny Estrada will be returning to his big league roots, and on the surface, the Phillies swinging a deal with Arizona seems sensible. Letting free agent Mike Piazza end his Hall of Fame career near his childhood home of Phoenixville might not be a terrible idea to some, either.

The Phillies will be going in a different direction at catcher in 2007 because they're parting ways with long-time starter Mike Lieberthal, but don't look for a big-name replacement.

Although there's been some internal discussion on whether they should make a play for Estrada, who is very available, the Phillies seem likely to head into 2007 with Carlos Ruiz starting and Chris Coste as an often-used backup.

The Phils don't appear worried that Ruiz and Coste were both rookies in 2006 or that neither has spent a full season in the big leagues. In their judgment, Ruiz, who will turn 28 in January, and Coste, who will be 34 in February, have earned the opportunity.

"Carlos has a chance to be our No. 1 guy," manager Charlie Manuel said Thursday. "He got his feet wet a little bit this year and convinced us that he can play in the big leagues. We're going to turn him loose and see what he can do.

"And with Coste, I don't see us having to get another backup catcher. In the second half, we won mostly with Coste playing. I think Carlos can catch about 100 games for us next year, and Coste definitely can catch 60-to-70."

This season, Ruiz was a star in Triple-A and consistently improved during his three stints with the Phillies. Meantime, Coste reached the majors after 111/2 seasons in the minors and become a feel-good story by hitting .328 in 65 games, 46 as a starter.

A pudgy 5-10, 200-pounder, Ruiz is solid behind the dish, has a very strong arm and is a threat at the plate. For Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Panamanian hit .307 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs in 100 games. In 27 games with the Phils, he hit .261 with 3 homers.

When Ruiz made his first trip to the majors in May, he hit just .143 in 14 games. But he returned in July and hit .444 in a two-week stint, then was promoted a third time on Aug. 31 and batted .350 over the final month of the season.

As for Estrada, he's on the trading block because Diamondbacks coaching staff didn't like the way he implemented the game-plan when calling games. Estrada told Arizona reporters recently that he'd like to return to Philadelphia, his first organization, but team insiders predicted he'd end up succeeding Piazza in San Diego.

The Phils like Estrada's grit, but some in the organization believe the 30-year-old's skills already are declining. Estrada likely will get about $3.5 million in salary arbitration for 2007, and the Phils aren't sure he's worth it.

Piazza is biggest name in a weak crop of free agent catchers, but the Phils don't have much interest in the 12-time All-Star, who turned 38 in September.

"If we're not going to get a front-line guy, then I see no reason why we can't go with what we have," Manuel said. "I think Ruiz and Coste can do a good job for us."

Randy Miller can be reached at randarino@aol.com