Outrageous Offseason Ideas

If you are like me, you are probably sick of hearing the names Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, Chone Figgins, Placido Polanco, Brandon Lyon, Jose Valverde and Fernando Rodney. We still have the entire offseason of discussing these players, so let's take a diversion and look at five trades and free agent signings that probably won't happen but could make sense for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Braves trade SP Derek Lowe to Phillies for RP Brad Lidge

Why it could work: Brad Lidge is a player who needs a change of scenery every few years. He struggled with the Houston Astros prior to his trade to the Phillies so another trade could help Lidge become a quality closer again. The Braves' top two relievers from 2009, Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez, are both free agents. Lowe struggled in his first year with the Braves but as a sinker ball pitcher, could see a rebound with the Phillies' excellent infield defense. The Braves have six starting pitchers under contract next year and are expected to trade Lowe or Javier Vazquez.

Potential problems: Both players have large contracts, with Lidge owed $36 million over the next three seasons and Lowe owed $45 million for the next three seasons. The Braves may not have confidence in Lidge to return to elite status and the Phillies may be reluctant to have a 37-year-old pitcher with declining numbers for the next three years. The Phillies have a full rotation already, although there is room to improve.

Nationals trade 3B Ryan Zimmerman to Phillies for SP J.A. Happ, SP Jamie Moyer, SP Antonio Bastardo, OF Michael Taylor and cash

Why it could work: The Phillies need a third baseman (preferrably a defensive standout) and Zimmerman fits that description perfectly and is an offesnive juggernaut as well. Zimmerman is only 25 and under contract through 2014. The Phillies have the pitching depth to give up three starting pitchers while the Nationals have a huge need for pitching as they currently have only one Major League-caliber starter (John Lannan). The Nationals have expressed an interest in acquiring a veteran starter to mentor the young pitching and Moyer is a perfect fit for them. Happ could be the Nationals' ace for next season and it would make sense for the Phillies to trade him now. Bastardo and Taylor are Major League ready but there may not be room for them on the Phillies roster so they could be expendable.

Potential Problems: Zimmerman is the face of the Nationals' franchise and by far their best player so the Nationals would be very reluctant to trade him. Happ, Bastardo and Taylor are not yet arbitration-eligible but Moyer is owed $6.5 million for next year (while Zimmerman is only owed $5 million) so the Nationals may require the Phillies to eat some of Moyer's salary.

White Sox trade RP Bobby Jenks and cash to Phillies for 3B Pedro Feliz

Why it could work: The Phillies need another reliever and the White Sox need a third baseman. Jenks will get a small arbitration raise over his $5.6 million salary from next year and Feliz has a $5 million option for 2010.

Potential problems: This trade was plausible a couple of weeks ago but since then the White Sox have traded for Mark Teahen to play third base and the Phillies have declined Pedro Feliz's option for 2010. This trade will not happen.

Phillies sign Brad Penny

Why it could work: Last season, Penny had success in the National League with the San Francisco Giants after a disastrous stint in the American League with the Boston Red Sox. However, the Phillies could look to use Penny in the bullpen. Throughout his career, Penny has much better numbers against hitters the first time through the lineup than the second time. The Phillies could shift Penny to a starter if there is a vacancy in the rotation. Penny is a highly emotional pitcher who can start or relieve similar to Brett Myers, who will not be returning to the Phillies next year. Penny may also be motivated to pitch for the Phillies to defeat his former team, the Florida Marlins.

Potential Problems: As a career starter, Penny may have trouble or may be reluctant to shift to the bullpen. Penny will probably have contract offers to be a starter from other teams that were similar to the 1 year, $5 million contract that Penny signed with the Red Sox this season. To sign Penny, the Phillies would need to beat that offer and the Phillies may not want to commit that much money to a reliever.

Phillies sign Eric Hinske

Why it could work: With Matt Stairs unlikely to return for next season, the Phillies could use a left-handed hitting reserve outfielder and Hinske would fit in perfectly. He would also be a defensive improvement over Stairs. Hinske should be affordable and could also fill in at third base in a pinch. Hinske has also played on the last three American League champion teams, winning World Series titles with the Red Sox in 2007 and the New York Yankees in 2009. Hinske also struck out to record the final out for the Tampa Bay Rays against the Phillies in the 2008 World Series.

Potential Problems: There doesn't seem to be any drawbacks here though Hinske may prefer the American League or will look for more playing time.

Read more!

Playoff Rosters: Redux

A couple of weeks ago, Dan Trubman previewed the Phillies' potential playoff roster here. Since then, a few things have changed: injuries to Brett Myers, Chan Ho Park and Jamie Moyer, the emergence of a closer (Ryan Madson) and the fact that the Phillies have actually clinched the National League East. The team still have several days before they need to finalize their roster for the playoffs but it can't hurt to see what the postseason roster would look like right now.Barring injury, the Phillies' offense is pretty much set for the playoffs as follows:
C: Carlos Ruiz
C: Paul Bako
1B: Ryan Howard
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Jimmy Rollins
3B: Pedro Feliz
IF: Greg Dobbs
IF: Eric Bruntlett
LF: Raul Ibanez
CF: Shane Victorino
RF: Jayson Werth
OF: Ben Francisco
OF: Matt Stairs
That is 13 position players that the Phillies will definitely bring to the playoffs. The only possible addition among position players would be utilityman Miguel Cairo.

The following pitchers will definitely included on the postseason roster (barring further injury):
Cole Hamels
Cliff Lee
Joe Blanton
Pedro Martinez
J.A. Happ
Ryan Madson

That brings the roster to a total of 19 players. Martinez would likely be the fourth starter and Happ would go to the bullpen due to a lack of left-handed relievers, Happ's success in the bullpen earlier in the season and Martinez's struggles in the first inning this season (opponents are hitting .305/.390/.700 against Martinez in the first inning). Brett Myers, Chan Ho Park, Scott Eyre and J.C. Romero will also be added the postseason roster if they are healthy. Eyre, Myers and Romero have so far returned to games and Park should return this weekend. Provided that all four are able to pitch for the playoffs, that would leave just two roster spots open. Those two spots would likely be filled by two of Brad Lidge, Kyle Kendrick, Chad Durbin, Tyler Walker and Clay Condrey.

Lidge's struggles this season have been well-documented and Manuel has showed enormous patience with Lidge and loyalty by letting him throw to the final batter in Wednesday's clincher against the Houston Astros. I imagine Manuel will keep Lidge on the postseason roster (and may even use him in high leverage or closing situations), though Lidge should be left off of the roster.

The Kendrick situation has been covered here. While Kendrick has been lights out in September, I don't think there's currently an opening for Kendrick on the playoff roster but he should travel with the team to serve as an emergency starter in case Martinez's neck prevents him from making a start or another pitcher is injured.

Durbin was an integral part of the 2008 World Series team but has struggled with inconsistency and injury this season, although he has posted a 1.98 ERA in September.

Walker has been a pleasant surprise this year but has struggled lately posting a 6.52 ERA in September. His recent collapse will probably cost him a spot in the postseason bullpen.

Condrey will probably get a spot on the team. He has pitched well all season and has not allowed an earned since his return from the disabled list on September 19.

I would probably choose Durbin and Condrey for the final two spots on the team due to their recent strong performances, playoff experience and ability to pitch multiple innings. However, if either of them falter in the last weekend they should be replaced by one of the other candidates.

Let's start a prediction pool. Entries are due by the final pitch of the regular season, reply to this thread on the blog on whether or not the following players will make the postseason roster:
-Eric Bruntlett
-Miguel Cairo
-Brett Myers
-Chan Ho Park
-Scott Eyre
-J.C. Romero
-Brad Lidge
-Kyle Kendrick
-Chad Durbin
-Tyler Walker
-Clay Condrey
-Sergio Escalona
-Jack Taschner Read more!

Building a 25 man roster (without Lidge).

First I want to thank Nick for letting me post here. But considering I'm like 80% of the comments, it only seems fair.

So anyway, with the Phillies a solid 7 games up, it's time to start thinking ahead to constructing a 25 man roster. The Phillies are actually in pretty good shape here, if anything, they have too many players who "deserve" a spot or who you can imagine being able to contribute.

One last comment before I get started: I'm pretty much going on the assumption that all the players on the 15 day DL will be back and close to 100% by the playoffs, and if I understand what the Phillies are saying, so are they.

First I'll list the players who I think are pretty uncontroversial, in no particular order.

Position Players (9):

Ryan Howard
Jimmy Rollins
Chase Utley
Pedro Feliz
Carlos Ruiz
Paul Bako
Paul Ibanez
Shane Victorino
Jayson Werth

Pitchers (8):

Joe Blanton
Cole Hamels
J.A. Happ
Cliff Lee
Ryan Madson
Jamie Moyer
Chan Ho Park
J.C. Romero

That's 17 picks, leaving 8 picks to go.

Position Players (3):

Ben Francisco

This guy would be (and has been) an everyday player on other teams. I could even see him starting a game here and there, but he also could be used as a pinch hitter who could also play effective defensive (sorry Matt Stairs).

Matt Stairs

Though he's definitely been cold this half hits wise, he's still a powerful lefty, and even though he's carrying a pretty weak AVG, his OBP is still a decent .359. Honestly, at least he's a lot better than John Mayberry at the whole pinch hitting thing.

Eric Bruntlett

Ok, they guy isn't really a major league level hitter. But he can play pretty much every position, including most importantly (if not fantastically) SS and 2B. Also qualifies under the unassisted triple play clause.

That leaves room for 5 more pitchers. I know that having 13 pitchers may seem like a tad overkill, but honestly, it's not the scoring runs that scares me, it's the pitching. I really can't justify adding Miguel Cairo. One could argue that Dobbs deserves a spot, and if he makes a speedy recovery, maybe he does. But he's not been the amazing pinch hitter he was last year.

Now before we proceed, let's remember that especially in a short playoff series, it's pretty likely you won't use a 4th starter, and very possible won't use a 5th.

Assuming a rotation of Lee, Hamels, Happ, and Blanton, it's not obvious they need another guy who can start, and even if they do, Moyer could fill that spot. But, it's never bad to have a guy who can go more than a few frames, so let's give Pedro Martinez a spot (21). Some might say this is obvious, but the dude's pitched 119 and 130 pitches in his last 2 starts. But, considering how great he was on Sunday night, and assuming the Phillies can give him some rest between now and then, he should be good to go. He even seems willing to work out of the bullpen, and even if he's not 100%, I know I wouldn't want to see him in the 9th inning.

For spot number 22, I'm going with Scott Eyre. This overlooked lefty has posted some great numbers this year, even if his K/BB ratio isn't great. Even if he's just a situational lefty, that could be pretty useful.

Assuming he gets healthy and is ready, I'd give the next spot to Clay Condrey. With a WHIP of 1.24 and a GO/AO ratio of 2.18 (and a career 1.68) he's definitely a guy who can contribute.

For the penultimate spot, I'm going with Tyler Walker. This guy has been awesome this year. 19 strikes against only 6 walks. a WHIP of 0.89. Only 2 HR in 27 innings. Arguably he's having an abnormal year. But it's mid-September. I have no reason to believe he's going to collapse.

For the final spot, I'm going with Brett Myers. This pick is based on the trouble the Phillies have had in the 9th inning. I'm not really a big fan of the idea of a "closer" but it does seem a little true that some very good pitchers, given the ball in the 9th inning fall apart (sorry Madson). As Mitch Williams says, some players need to have that type of craziness that let's them excel in that position. And among the countless types of crazy that one could attrbute to Myers, it's the closer type of crazy that matters here. I'd rather have the 9th inning be demystified, but until then, Myers might be the guy.


So yeah, I left Lidge off. It's been done before. Well sorta. Remember Adam Eaton. Actually, don't remember Adam Eaton. I apologize to those who just had flashbacks to one of any number of horrible memories provided by him. Lidge simply has not proven his ability to get guys out when it counts. Even last year, every Lidge appearance was a rollercoster. But this year, it's not even fun, it just seems inevitable. Could things change? I guess. If Pedro can't recover from 130 pitches, if Happ isn't ready, same for Romero. But honestly, I'm not sure he get's the 26th spot, or even the 27th. I think I would rather have Dobbs, or even maybe Cairo, shit maybe even Sergio Escalona, with his 6.1 innings this year.
Read more!