by John Ryan
While the annual baseball winter meetings are full steam ahead, the Phillies find themselves sizzling on the hot stove with some juicy stories that may have legs. Let’s go over some of the past names, and some new names making their way around the lobby at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tadahito Iguchi – Ruben Amaro, Jr. has officially said on the record that the team has very little interest in bringing Tad back in the fold.
Mark DeRosa – Remember him? Former Quarterback at University of Penn, and current 2B slash super utility player for the Chicago Cubs. The rumor floating around is a three team deal involving the Phillies getting DeRosa, the Cubs getting Jake Peavy and J.A. Happ being a part of the trade. Hold on to your hats, we should know in the next couple of days how true this story is. (From everything I hear and read, that Jake Peavy to the Phils rumor is completely UNTRUE.) More on DeRosa: He played 27 games in LF last year (95 at 2B where he could play until Chase Utley is ready) and makes only 5.5 million this year.
Mark Mulder – While Amaro did say he wanted to add “someone of a higher level in terms of health and recent performance,” it doesn’t mean the Phillies haven’t checked in about the former Athletic and Cardinal.
Delmon Young – The Phillies reportedly have done a significant amount of fact checking on Young, who’s famous for hurling a bat at an umpire in 2006 and subsequently being suspended for 50 games. A Phillies source has been quoted as saying he’s a lower priority, however several baseball people in Las Vegas insist the Phillies are doing an extensive amount of homework on a guy who’s just a “low priority.”
Jon Garland/Braden Looper – Due to the hang up with Jamie Moyer wanting two guaranteed years at over 10 million per year, the Phillies are exploring a variety of second tier guys. Looper makes sense because his Dad was just hired by the organization to be one of Amaro’s lieutenants. Garland represents a traditional “work horse” who’s thrown many innings and is still just 29 years old. Many in baseball feel a move to the cozy confines of the National League (Citizens Bank Park not included) would help him break out after a dreadful year last year in which he posted a 4.90 ERA. I wouldn’t bet on him wearing red pinstripes next year. Looper? A much better guess.
Juan Rivera – If the Phillies don’t land a more attractive piece in a trade, Rivera is the guy from what I hear. He will platoon in LF with Greg Dobbs/Matt Stairs/Geoff Jenkins. Just so we’re clear: DeRosa is a MUCH more attractive option for the Phils because he : A.) provides insurance in case Utley’s injury lingers and B.) he batted .285 last year with 21 HR and 87 RBI. There is a possibility that the Phils bring on DeRosa and sign Rivera.
A.J. Burnett/Derek Lowe – Don’t bet your copy of the Christmas NOW CD any of the two winds up on Broad and Pattison next year. They both will command deals longer than 3 years, which the Phillies will probably not approach.
Raul Ibanez – A source familiar with the Phillies thinking believes the Phillies are very in on Ibanez due to his ties with special advisor Pat Gillick, and the fact that they have Utley, Howard and Rollins all batting predominantly from the south paw side will not be a deterrent. His agent has confirmed that the Phillies are highly in on Ibanez as well.
Randy Wolf – Wolf Pack part deux? Well, if Moyer doesn’t come back don’t rule it out. Sources believe that Amaro has had internal discussions about Wolf regarding a return, and he wouldn’t be averse to it, despite some in the organization not liking Wolf because: A.) Wolf was a frequent complainer. He seemed to not want to pitch through pain, when he struggled he didn’t like demotion (bullpen or the Brett Myers variety) or instruction, and often complained about Citizens Bank Park and B.) some within the organization believe that the past two years Wolf simply used the Phillies good faith proposals to raise the price in California and secure a contract where he really wanted to pitch. We’ll see. The odds are much better of him coming back than the immortal Danny Tartabul.
Update – Some more names attached to the Phillies in the past 24 hours at the meetings : Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker, Rick Ankiel, Jason Marquis (if Chicago picks up half or more of his salary). Also heard :
1.) Jason Donald is one of the hottest commodities of any player at the winter meetings. Would the Phils trade him? Doubt it.
2.) J.A. Happ’s name has been tossed around in my trade discussions, as has Madson, Condrey, and Carrassco. Condrey was probably the Phils firing back with a name. Doubt the Phils trade Madson or Carrassco.
3.) The Phillies are reportedly VERY high on trying to bring Derek Lowe to town, but reports are that the a.) Yankees are big time players for him vs. the Red Sox (never good for price tags) and b.) Scott Boras is asking for 4 years 72 million. High for a 35 year old despite his track record of performance and health.
4.) Amaro was quoted as saying, “we are ready to move now on a deal, but it would involve another team, or two signing off.” DeRosa anyone?
5.) Heard that Raul Ibanez’s first choice is Philadelphia, according to an unidentified friend of Ibanez’s who refused to give his name. Also, you can most likely cross off Rocco Baldelli’s name from the Phillies wish list. Health concerns and his inability to play consecutive days has scared off the Phils…..for now.
It’s been a wild winter meetings thus far. As you can see, things seem to change at the drop of a hat.