Skip to main content

Winter Meetings '09, Day 1 Notes

By
Lots of talk, no moves at all for the Phillies on day 1 of the 2009 Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Relief pitching should be the priority. The Phillies are in the market to retain some of their own, as well as add some players who have become free agents from other team.

Near the top of the list seem to be Chan Ho Park returning and perhaps Brandon Lyon, the former Tiger and D-Back. The Phillies met with Park's agent Jeff Borris on Monday, and talks remain ongoing. In 374 career games, the 30 year old Lyon has a 4.20 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

Trade rumors mainly surrounded only one current Phillie...Joe Blanton. ESPN's Jayson Stark reported that the Phils quietly let other teams know they'd listen to offers for Blanton. Ideally, they do not wish to trade him, but if the deal could improve the club and/or offer enough salary relief, it could interest the National League champs.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters that re-signing Pedro Martinez is something that could develop later. Translation: He's further down our list than guys we are talking to now. Amaro also told reporters that Brad Lidge and JC Romero should be recovered from their surgeries by opening day. Translation: If they aren't ready...Oh, s#@*!

Manager Charlie Manuel IS NOT at the meetings. New scout Dave Hollins IS at the meetings.

The Phillies are trying to spend wisely. There seems to be a self-imposed salary cap of roughly $140 million. Guessing at certain players' pay increases with arbitration on its way, the Phillies should have less than $15 million left to spend. Without knowing that the Phillies can fill out the roster from within their own system, there could be up to 6 open spots...a reserve offensive player, a starting pitcher and 4 relievers. But, turning to their own system could be the right answer for most of those spots. There are players like John Mayberry Jr. or Michael Taylor who could easily be a fit for the opening day roster as the 4th or 5th outfielder. Also, the Phillies have Jamie Moyer, whose health has been in question as of late, signed up, and Kyle Kendrick who has started 52 games for the Phillies over the last 3 seasons. Either guy could easily fill a void in the rotation. And let's not forget about the young guns named Antonio Bastardo (2-3, 6.46 ERA in 6 games) and Sergio Escalona (1-0, 4.61 ERA in 14 games). If one or both pitchers mature a bit, there could be less holes in the big league roster, and both men would have considerably low salaries.

Get your oven mitts out, folks- the stove is hot! Check back daily for Winter Meetings updates and more.

------------------------------

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!

BallHype: hype it up!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

By
On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from
Post a Comment
Read more

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

By
Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at
1 comment
Read more

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

By
Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi
Post a Comment
Read more