Skip to main content

PhoulBallz Roundtable: Phils' Most Likely Trade Candidate

Could Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. trade Cliff Lee again?
Occasionally, here on the site, we feature guests tackling a topic related to the Phillies.  This time around, I surveyed some of my favorite sports commentators and fans on the subject of which Phils player is most likely to find himself traded by the July 31st non-waiver trading deadline.

The participants in this roundtable are my PhoulBallz Podcast cohost and TheFightins.com front man Tug Haines, WFAN radio host and sports writer Joe Giglio, the biggest female baseball fan I know Casey Landman, PhilliesNation.com writer Kieran Carobine, Wall St. Journal Radio's Tyrone A. Johnson as well as yours truly.  Here's what the group had to say on this subject.


Tug Haines-

With Ruben Amaro Jr. at the helm, Chase Utley, Freddy Galvis, and Jesse Biddle will be traded for seven Dominican outfielders, (all 5'10" and 180 lbs.), and three 6'5" first basemen.


Joe Giglio-

Cliff Lee: With the Phillies hanging around the NL East and Wild Card races, I'm sure most fans don't want to hear about rebuilding or re-tooling, but it's likely something that Ruben Amaro Jr. will have to truly consider in July. At this point, only three teams in the sport -- Houston, Toronto, Miami -- have a worse run differential than Philadelphia's -38.

Considering that Amaro tried to move Lee last year, they could conceivably wait until August because his salary wouldn't likely be claimed to ruin a deal, and that the lefty would represent the missing piece for many contenders, it has a real shot at happening. Furthermore, the Phillies could have their pick - barter with a big market team willing to eat salary or eat salary themselves in return for a difference making prospect.


Casey Landman-

Before Chase Utley got hurt, I was thinking he would be the one to get traded if the Phillies were not "in the race", by trade deadline. Someone could use his veteran presence on a playoff bound club and the Phils don't have him tied up in contracts after this year. But, now that Utley's future is uncertain, I think Cliff Lee goes. The Phils have kids from the minors pitching well (starters that is) and if the Phillies are totally out of it the last two months, it would give the organization a good chance to see more young guys to try and figure out the pitching situation for 2014. Ruben's traded Lee before, I can totally see him trading Lee again. 


Kieran Carobine-

Consider it a stretch, but if the Phillies find themselves way down in the NL East basement, look for Amaro trying to dump Ryan Howard on someone.  Yes, I know, this seems impossible but we have all been shocked before.  If this happens, consider it the white flag waving the Phillies on to rebuilding.  However, the current Phillies team has players that could fill the void if Howard is traded.  Michael Young could play first base, giving Freddy Galvis steady time in the infield at third waiting for his time to take over for the not-so-robotic Chase Utley.

Another option would be Cliff Lee.  The Phillies system has some good young arms and this season already shows they have confidence in them and are comfortable moving forward with them.  With that being said, the Phillies are quietly hovering around Wild Card status and could be looking to buy come the trade deadline.  I would much rather being having that conversation right now.


Tyrone A. Johnson-

While conventional wisdom says Cliff Lee is the Phillies player to be dealt, I think that two other candidates fit better. I never want to trade an ace level pitcher and Lee is proving once again that he is one. I would say that Carlos Ruiz or Chase Utley make a lot more sense. Both guys have movable contracts and that may be the biggest factor. They may be the two most popular Phillies but Utley is physically past his prime while "Chooch" may have been a product of PED's. Also both guys could help any contending team short term.


Jay Floyd-

I see the guy parting ways with the Phillies by July 31st being shortstop Jimmy Rollins.  The Phils' longest tenured star is on the way out, forced by the improving offense of infield wizard Freddy Galvis.  Rollins' bothersome approach to the game of baseball, in which he goes hard strictly in a selective fashion, will no longer be a worrisome trait for Philadelphia fans to have to deal with.  Rollins can be someone else's spark on occasion.  Galvis and second base prospect Cesar Hernandez, who has posted a Triple-A slash line of .312/.378/.445 this season with Lehigh Valley, could very well form the Phillies' double play combination before summer is through, if Rollins leaves and Chase Utley continues to deal with health concerns.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

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

2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #24 RHP Cristian Hernandez

Venezuelan born right-hander Cristian Hernandez has begun to earn recognition as one of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a reported $120,000, Hernandez got his professional career started the following summer as a starter for the Phillies' Red Dominican Summer League club.  There, in 13 starts, Hernandez tallied a 2-3 record with 2.57 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP as well as a 7.0 K/9 mark. An injury sidelined Hernandez in 2019 and the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. In 2021, Hernandez saw his first regular season action in the United States, starting his season in Florida Complex League.  After two appearances there, the six-foot-three 185-pounder was promoted to the Class A Clearwater Threshers.  In 20 combined outings (17 starts), Hernandez notched a 2-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, a .228 batting average against and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Projectability is something that baseball folks like about Hernandez.  His size, consistent

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rolle