Skip to main content

Winter Meetings '09, Days 3 & 4 Notes

The Phillies are just about ready to wrap things up at this year's Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Wednesday was the third day of the meetings, and, while the team was involved in many rumors, the Phillies didn't make any moves.

The Ross Gload deal is technically pending until Gload passes a physical.

Brandon Lyon agreed to terms on a 3 yr/$15 million deal with Ed Wade's Astros. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro stated that the Phillies were involved deeply in negotiations with Lyon but that Wade stole him away.

Rumors surfaced that the Phillies were in the mix again for a trade with Toronto involving ace pitcher Roy Halladay. Talks mainly had names like Domonic Brown and Michael Taylor attached, but GM Ruben Amaro stated Thursday morning that a big trade like that getting done is not likely. On Wednesday, Brown was named to the 22 player Arizona Fall League top prospect team. PhoulBallz interviewed both big OF prospects during their '09 minor league campaigns...here are links in case you missed those- Brown. Taylor.

While in Indianapolis, the Phillies met with Cliff Lee's agent to discuss a contract extension. No updates on that, as of yet.

In Thursday's Rule 5 draft, the Phillies lost pitcher Carlos Monasterios, who was Lakewood's opening day starter in 2007, to the Metropolitans. Monasterios spent 2008 & 2009 with Clearwater, and earned a late season promotion to Reading this year.

The Phillies selected RHP David Herndon from the Angels in the Rule 5 draft. Herndon, seen in video footage here, is a 6'-5" tall 24 year old hurler, who appeared in 50 games in relief this year at AA level Arkansas. He had 11 saves and a 3.03 ERA. His control is one of his best strengths. His career WHIP in 4 minor league seasons is 1.27. Following a DL stint in June with the Arkansas Travelers, Herndon went 5-2, after starting his AA season 0-4. In this year's Dominican Winter League, Herndon had 2-1 record with a 3.86 ERA and no saves in 16 games for the Gigantes.

Another name popping back up in the rumor mill is John Smoltz. Phillies phans heard that name plenty last week, and according to Jayson Stark of ESPN, the Phillies are taking a hard look at him once again.

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

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!


BallHype: hype it up!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

Q&A with Justin De Fratus

Justin De Fratus is a 21 year old right handed relief pitcher with the Lakewood BlueClaws. An 11th round draft choice in 2007, Justin had been a starter in his first two seasons in the Phillies organization. Informed this spring that he'd be switched from the rotation to the bullpen, Justin has excelled and become one of the most reliable pitchers on the Lakewood staff. In 19 games this season, Justin is 2-0, with a 1.83 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over 39 1/3 innings pitched. PhoulBallz.com spoke with Justin De Fratus just last night. Here's how that went down... Justin, South Atlantic League all star selections were announced this week, and you were named to the team. Can I get your reaction to that? How excited were you? Very excited about it. Well, especially this year because I just got moved to the bullpen, so this is a new role for me. So, if anything, it's reassuring that I'm doing my job. It's the first time in my pro career that I've been selected as an all star...

Catching prospect O'Hoppe tabbed to join Phillies

Logan O'Hoppe, image- Jay Floyd Please consider supporting my work and via my Patreon page .  For a small monthly fee, your patronage will get you exclusive interviews and other prospect related material as well as early access to all of my other content such as this feature.  Thank you.   On Friday, the Phillies added a pair of catchers to their 2020 player pool.  Minor leaguers Logan O'Hoppe (pronounced Oh-HOP-ee) and Henri Lartigue arrived in Philadelphia to help catch bullpen sessions for the team's collection of approximately 30 pitchers. The call to O'Hoppe was extremely welcome as the 20-year-old had been staying as active as he possibly could, working out with other players that have been been waiting out quarantine due to the current pandemic at his home on Long Island.  However, he had been very eager to step back onto an actual baseball field. "I just hope I can play soon.  Where ever that is or whatever form that is, that'd be aw...