Part 2 of an earlier post.
An interesting fact that has been thrown around recently: the Phillies are the only team in the majors who have used just five starting pitchers this season. This is incredible when you remember that by this time last year, they had already used about 8 or 10 starters. Also amazing when you consider some of the performances we’ve seen this year.
People insist that if the Phillies are going to be serious contenders, they will need to acquire another reliable starting pitcher. It’s generally agreed that the Phillies farm system is close to being depleted. So how are they going to secure this “reliable starting pitcher” if not from the farm, or at least with freshly tilled prospects?
Option 1: “The Salary Dump” Taking a huge contract from a team that is out of contention; not just this year, but for the next few years. Except for the Mariners, I don’t see anyone moving in this direction. Most teams are still in the race, or have delusions that they’ll be competitive in a year or two. The Phillies say that they couldn’t afford Kyle Loshe due to this years free agent signings, so I guess this isn’t a realty.
Option 2: “The Project” A rehab project for middling-prospects. Maybe a player with lots of potential who just can’t put it all together or a guy who is injury plagued. Well, we’ve got some walking wounded already (Kris Benson) and I don’t think we want to add Carl Pavano. Maybe it’s time to bring Robinson Tejada back? Or give Jeff Weaver a 15th chance? Can anybody explain why the Phillies weren’t able to sign Bartolo Colon to a Benson-type deal?
Option 3: “The Embarrassment” A situation where a team eats an entire salary just to get rid of a an embarrassing mistake (you know, kind of like Wes Helms). Generally these are players that signed to a medium-high contract and flopped huge. Barry Zito? $126,000,000 minus 1.5 years? — yeah right. Maybe Sidney Ponson?
Option 4: “DFAed” This is a variation of “The Embarassment.” Picking up a player that has been designated for assignment, passed through waivers, and then become a free agent via refusing their minor league assignment. Not a lot of “reliable” pitchers survive this process (although I think that’s how the Phillies picked up Romero last year…).
Option 5: “The Unsigned” They didn’t make a team out of Spring Training or have been released and not picked up by anyone else. Roger Clements or Eric Milton anyone?
Personally, I don’t really think that one of these options will lock in a true savior, maybe something more radical is called for…
June 16, 2008 at 1:09 am |
Nice rundown . . . . The Phillies definitely need some more arms or different arms (Myers) in the starting rotation. It will be interesting to see what the Phils come up with. Ed Wade is always looking for pitching, maybe Myers would like Texas!
June 16, 2008 at 9:48 am |
In all seriousness, I think that Meyers is still in love with the idea of being a closer. He always wanted to be the star player, and lets face it, the most visible pitcher these days is the closer. When you think of 1980, who do you think of first? Lefty or the Tugger?
Wade may be persuaded to take Meyers, but is there anyone we’d actually want back from the Astros?