by Michael DeLuca
No secret. The Phils are desperately seeking starting pitching. They have the worst starter’s ERA in Major League Baseball. The list of names that they’ve investigated reads like a telephone book. Well, add two more to the list as Danny Knobler of c
bsports.com suggests that the team is poking around to see if they could pry Zach Duke or Paul Maholm from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
I’m not a big fan of Maholm. He celebrates his 27th birthday tomorrow, so he’s just entering his prime pitching years, but I don’t see much upside there. If Duke is available, dependent of course on the asking price, he’d sit atop my list of guys to target, along with Matt Cain and Aaron Harang. Duke is just 2 months removed from his 26th birthday and is just coming into his own on the mound. In 2004, Baseball America ranked Duke as the #6 prospect in the Eastern League, two spots ahead of Ryan Howard! His first three full seasons (2006 – 2008) in the bigs were less than spectacular, never having better than a 1.50 WHIP. This year, he’s amassed a 7-5 record with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.
Duke’s fastball registers in the low to mid 90′s, so he won’t blow anybody away. His success comes from his impeccable control, plus curveball and sinker, and what is perhaps the best changeup in the major leagues.
THE PHILLIES SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS BEFORE THE SEASON BEGAN. MOYER SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN RESIGNED AND THEY WENT IN WITH AN UNPROVEN FIFTH STARTER. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY’VE GOT THE MONEY NOW BUT STUCK TO THEIR CHEAP OLD WAYS DURING THE OFFSEASON. NOW THEY KEEP DISCUSSING ALL THESE GUYS BUT THEY’LL LET SOMEBODY BEAT THEM TO THE PUNCH LIKE THEY DID WITH HARDEN LAST YEAR.
Phillies absolutely need to get a #2 starter behind Hamels. Joe Blanton is good for eating innings but is not a #2, maybe a 3. Duke is too raw and hasn’t experienced enough success to be a workhorse in the postseason, starting two games in a playoff series. I like Washburn from Seattle. Having a great season and we could probably get him for Jason Donald since the M’s need young middle infielders.
The Brett Myers injury really hurt the Phils, who honestly needed a pitcher even before that. He was a monster when he came back from the minors for the second half last year and the playoffs. If it weren’t for his resurgence, the team wouldn’t have won the World Series.
I’m an Astros fan and keep seeing that the Phils are looking all over the league, what would you give up for Oswalt? Don’t know much about your minor league system but seems that Happ and Bastardo are your best prospects. I know Drayton MacClain has said that they won’t trade Oswalt but I’m curious what we could get for him. He’s not getting any younger and our team isn’t getting any better.
First off, we don’t need another lefty. Aside from that, I like Duke. Also, really this team needs a #1. Hamels hasn’t been great this year, though he’s playing better now.
As for the team’s “CHEAP OLD WAYS” they spent more money last year than 3/4 of the league. Payroll was like $115 + Million. On top of that, what starting pitcher was really out there this offseason?
And by the way, you’ve got to be kidding me, Pat Burrell just hit a home-run against us, that’s only the second of his season. That guy just can’t stop screwing us!
Moyer has been one of the best pitchers in the league over the last month and this team is still in first place. I don’t want to trade the future when I think we can win with what we’ve got now.
I like what we’ve got better than Maholm. I’ve had Zach Duke ever year in fantasy until this year, so I bet he keeps pitching really well. Let’s go get him.
I think Duke is a much better option than Washburn. Flat out better stuff, younger, less expensive.
Not interested in Oswalt though a lot of others are. He’s been on a slow but steady decline for several years now and doesn’t bring the heat like he used to. Don’t think Citizen’s Bank Park would be kind to him at all.
The pitchers that were out there during the offseason were Derrick Lowe and CC Sabathia. They never entertained the notion of CC and who really could with how much the Yanks paid him. It’s tough to call them cheap in regards to Lowe since he did get a contract that nobody saw coming. In the end though, if they saved the money on Moyer and put it towards making the move for Lowe, it probably would have made the most sense.
I agree with Duke; Would love Duke. He has #1 stuff. Could be a nice find when he comes into his own. Remember, he was in the majors fairly young and all young pitchers struggle at times.