Reunited and it feels so good? 3 Free Agents to Consider
The Phillies should be busy this winter, with center field and a setup man being primary free agent targets. Three familiar names could be on their shopping list.
Reunited and it feels so good? 3 Free Agents to Consider
Ryan Lawrence, Daily News Staff Writer
It’s been four years and a day since one of the more memorable sports days in the life of many Philadelphians: the world championship parade down Broad Street, celebrating the city’s first title in a quarter century.
The Phillies have gone backward in each season since and to use words like “stagnant” and “complacent” to describe the team and their core players isn’t exactly uncharted territory.
And that’s probably why any thoughts of reconstructing the Phillies roster for the 2013 season with players from the 2008 team who have since departed might sound counterproductive or a tad crazy.
An influx of new blood – young players on the rise who haven’t won before – is often the more acceptable way to improve a roster.
But three former Phillies who became free agents this week wouldn’t look that terrible in red pinstripes again if the price is right.
At least in the case of Shane Victorino, it’s not just if the price is right but also if other, possibly more intriguing options turn out to be bad fits (read: asking for more money than they are worth).
For the first time in his career, Victorino, who turns 32 at the end of the month, is a free agent.
Victorino’s maddening approach at the plate makes him a somewhat unlikely fit for a Phillies offense that is trying to change its ways. After getting traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline, Victorino hit .245 with a .316 on-base percentage in the final 53 games of the 2012 season.
On a whole, it was Victorino’s worst season since becoming a major league regular. His batting average (.255), on-base percentage (.321), slugging percentage (.383) and OPS (.704) were all career lows.
With that said, Victorino is also just one year removed from his best season, when he hit .279 with an .847 OPS, 16 triples, 17 home runs and 95 runs.
Angel Pagan might be the hotter name right now. Michael Bourn is clearly a sexier name. And Josh Hamilton is the best name.
But in getting-your-bang-for-your-buck department, Victorino, a plus defender, wouldn’t be the worst thing to end up with in center field for 2013 if he would accept a one or two-year deal.
Brett Myers became a free agent for the second time in four years when the Chicago White Six wisely rejected a $10 million club option on his contract this week. Myers got a pretty nice parting gift on the way out: a $3 million buyout.
Although it seems like he’s been around forever, Myers is just 32 years-old: younger than Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Carlos Ruiz.
After converting 19 of 21 save chances for the Houston Astros before being traded to Chicago, Myers might look for a closer’s role on the open market. If there’s a team willing to give him closer’s money, then by all means he should sign on the dotted line.
But that’s not likely to happen.
As last winter showed, fewer teams are willing to overspend for closers. Jonathan Papelbon and Heath Bell are the only relievers who got guaranteed, multi-year deals to be closers. (And Bell, who has been traded since, was an unmitigated disaster.)
The team with the best record in baseball in 2012, the Washington Nationals, turned to Tyler Clippard when Drew Storen was injured and they got an effective season out of Clippard, who had never been a closer before. Three of final four teams left standing also ended the season without the closer they began with (San Francisco, New York Yankees, Detroit).
With that said, perhaps Myers’ best move is to forgo a one-year tryout as a closer somewhere for the security of a multi-year deal in another role. After joining the White Sox in the middle of the summer, Myers was effective as a setup man in front of closer Addison Reed.
Perhaps Myers could be outfitted for a similar role with the Phillies, a team in need of a veteran eighth-inning arm. An aside: would there be a bullpen with more personality at the backend than a possible Jacksonville duo of Papelbon and Myers?
It also might not be the worst thing in the world to have a pitcher on the roster who could potentially be thrown back into a starter’s role if injuries arise.
Of course a more intriguing free agent reliever is Myers’ old buddy, Ryan Madson. The 32-year-old Madson hasn’t thrown a pitch in a major league game in 13 months, since he threw the final 14 pitches for the Phillies in Game 5 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals two Octobers ago.
After being a victim of the aforementioned tough closer’s market last winter, settling for a one-year deal with Cincinnati, Madson blew out his elbow in spring training and missed the entire 2012 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Earlier this week, Madson declined his $11 million mutual option with the Reds, taking a $2.5 million buyout and a chance to test the free agent waters for a second straight offseason.
According to Jon Heyman of cbssports.com, Madson and his agent, Scott Boras, are seeking a closer’s job. But as both found out last year, the perfect deal might not be out there.
With Madson coming off a major injury, and factoring in that most teams will almost certainly continue to be reluctant to overpay for a closer, it’s difficult to see how Madson gets anything better than the one-year deal he received from the Reds last January. Perhaps returning to a comfort zone in Philly for a year, setting up for Papelbon, would help re-establish his value as a major league reliever and help him finally score the long-term, closer contract he wants this time next winter.
Reconstructing the roster of the 2008 Phillies is not the way to win again. But considering one or all three of the names above isn’t crazy talk, either.
In the end, Madson makes the most sense – if he’s willing to take a setup job. He’s also the name the Phillies are most likely to pursue.
But the fact that he declined to return to Cincinnati for that role likely means Madson and Boras will once again wait out the market for as long as possible to find a closer’s job.
Free agents can start signing with new teams on Saturday.
Boras has pulled more rabbits out of the hat than any other agent, but Madsen turning down 11 million??? crazy— mlwmlw- If Madson holds out to be a closer, he will likely receive just a one-year offer.
Maybe the Phillies would be wise to offer him the security of a multi-year pact as a set-up man.
Just a thought.— PhightinPhil 
can we trade RAJ for Sabean?— Sam Crow- None of the above should return. Based on money available, Pagan or Span should be where RAJ should be looking. Either one (Span is my preference) would be a great fit in CF. Ruf is having an excellent Venezuelan league run and if continues to improve in LF, his RH bat would be a great addition to the lineup but no matter, he'll probably begin the season in AAA. Hope Galvis makes it back and is given a shot at 3B (if RAJ doesn't get a FA) which I believe he can handle. However, his lack of bat makes 3B unlikely.— streetrat
- Don't really want any of them back...Madsen only because he's not even a year removed from TJ surgery. Doubt Myers or Madsen would come back unless they had no other offers. Vic = JRoll with less power and baseball IQ.
Just say no to overpaying guys over 30.— Only in Philly... - I liked Shane, but really, its time to move on. Madson is the only one who makes any sense.— wo_fat
- Bringing back Victorino may make sense only if you don't have to pay him. He's a gamer and has a great glove. I'm sure he will want a one year deal so he can try to cash in next year. If Madson turned down his option, he's looking for at least $8 million to set up for Paps. Don't need to pay a set up that kind of money especially on a rebuilt arm. Pass. I don't think Myers is a serious option either. Take your chances with Aumont.— Relocator
- The focus for the Phillies needs to be hitters. With catcher, 1st, 2nd, and short likely to be unchanged, the outfield and third need to be addressed with people that can consistently get on base. It would be great to have some plus defenders with speed. I don't see the three mentioned in the article coming back, and thats OK.— JohnFC
- Victorino in right, Bourne in CF and trade D Brown and Worley and prospect(Valle?) for Garza and Soriano with Cubs eating 85% of the cash and put him in LF,......trade Lee for Olt and prospects and sign McCarthy and Myers,....that money should fit well under the 181 mil threshold— SyddBarrett
- YG2BSM on all three!— EJAY
- Maybe they're all a bit older and wiser. I've always liked Vic's hustle, if not his undisciplined approach at the plate, but you could say that about everyone we have except Utley. How come no one remembers management's off-season mantra last year: change of attitude at the plate? Manuel was a big advocate early on, but seemed to forget it once the games began, so I tend to discount his opinion. Between Myers and Madsen, Myers is less of a question due to Madsen's surgery. Brett did have some fire, and could be an option to get to Papelbon. The free agent inventory is quite unimpressive, so unless Ben Bernanke is bankrolling Amaro, the next few months should be entertaining.— ijj
- These 3 were all head cases.— Ssteve115
- I'd consider Myers because he's still a good pitcher but I don't know where he would pitch. Victorino is declining. Madson is a big question mark and a year away from his old role.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- Scott Rolen...that would be an absolute gas!— saabguy
- Philly writers love The Wayback Machine.— s
- Murph, you need a vacation. You will feel better and think clearer once you get back.— Russ
- @sbilly......that wink and nod was probably a reaction to his ADHD medication giving him a little Tourette's twitch!— Mark1npt
- I thought Shane left with a 'wink and a nod' that he would return.— sillybilly
- Myers could be a good addition to the back end of the bullpen. Would liven things up too.
Madsen I would welcome back if healthy and reasonable price.
As for Victorino, I think it may be time to move on. Don't need any more pop ups in the lineup, Rollins provides enough on his own.— mdiam9 - Bring back Richie Allen before anyone these clowns.— Tyrone Biggums
- Sign Hamilton...trade Howard to the Rangers for Ott ... trade Lee to the Dodgers for Ethier...sign Myers... Phillies win the World Series!— jmb53
- Those 3 names sound a lot better than the flotsam and jetsam tossed around earlier this week. But it'd be surprising if any of them are back, let alone more than one.— PhillySubsMac
- Lets bring back So Taguchi. The Phillies have been going backwards since he was released a few days after they won the World Series.— zeke128
- I actually think all 3 of them could help the Phils next year. But not at the money or length of contract that they are looking for. I'd offer 1 or 2 years at the major league average salary. If they don't want it, let them go.
— TexColorado - And this all goes for the 'yutes' movement??? Please. There may be guys who are a bit younger who could do the same jobs and perhaps a wee bit better. Re-runs rarely work out.— Koons
- This article is a joke, right?— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Unless Charlie decides to set up a lineup based on ability and not his misguided loyalty, forget about Victorino. But....if he is seeing the light after a downslide of 4 years waiting for JayRo to become a lead off man, perhaps Victorino hitting 8th behind JayRo in 7th...with legitimate 1 and 2 men at the top of the lineup wouldn't look to bad for a year or 2 as the Phillies develop some younger talent.— Bob K
- Bring back Gene Garber.— hunglikeaton
- No, no and no. No over 30 retreads please. New blood is what's needed.
— thorshuffle - pardon the typo, I meant to say The Big Piece of TURD!— Campatent
- Does not matter at all. You can have Jesus playing center, Moses on third, and Mohammed in the pen. So long at the Big Piece of Trud is in this line up, we are going nowhere.— Campatent
- Wait.... Madson turned down an $11 million option for 2013? He thinks someone is going to pay him more than $11 million? For someone coming off Tommy John surgery???— SU_alum
- No way on Victorino. Meyers? Yeah why not. Madson? Sure— phillyceltic
- No way on Victorino. Meyers? Yeah why not. Madson? Sure— phillyceltic
- This team definately lacks "fire". Myers was a PITA but he was a fighter (literally) and had some impact on this teaming winning it all. He's the only one I take back and it's only as a setup guy not a starter. Vic is brain dead at the plate and sometimes on the bases. Madson turned down an $11 mil option? What is he crazy? He's not going to get that even as a closer and certainly not coming off of TJ surgery. You gotta wonder what kind of advice Boras is giving him.....I don't think he'd even get $11 mil total for a 2-3 year contract setting up! Maybe the Apocalypse really is coming in 6 weeks?????— Mark1npt
- Let's see. Two of the three were P.O'd when they left. Myers was quite vocal about it. Ryan feels betrayed, I think, though the blame should go to Boras. Shane - as well as he's played in the past, he's not a real smart player. He throws to the wrong base a lot and missed the cut-off man way too much, but he can rundown a ball.— andivalspoppop
- Shane's brashness fits more in Philly than anywhere, and he roamed the oldfield with abandon that is always a plus, especially if not pleased with JMJs performance...decent outfielder but light at the plate, even with the few clutch smacks he rendered. Shane could deal with hitting in the #2 slot, becoming more times than not a second chance lead off man. I really think he should be leadoff as he was in LA.
But Rollins rebound at the end of the season will likely entrench him there, especially with Manual still at the helm...I think Ryne would dump him for someone else...Pierre if he comes back. But I think we are stuck with JRoll in leadoff for another 2-3 years yet. Okay, if he contributes more consistently like the end of the year. But I'm not against trading him, inserting Galvis at short, his best position, and bring Shane back to leadoff. The Nats could use JROLL to lead off because that's not a natural spot for Werth. He needs to be more of a rbi guy, and maybe next year they switch him with Harper, who loves to perform no matter where in the lineup he is!
— ocpizza - Shane will NOT be back...Uncle Chollie is NOT a big fan of his. Take it to the bank. BJ Upton will get a serious look-see.— somertonspartan
- I think these sport writers read the comment sections in order to outline thier articles. Amazing! I would be interested in seeing what Madson has to offer, but I would not bend over for Boras. If the deal make sense I would love to see Madson back here. The other two can stay away.— Dr. D.
- NO, NO and NO— Flyboy24
- No all the way around!— mick1219
- Ugh ixnay on EttBray EyersMay
I wouldn't mind seeing Shane back here - I have a feeling that a big part of his poor performance last season was his anxiety over being traded. Victorino wants to be a Philly again more than anything and if the price is right, I'd sign him.
I'm surprised Madson turned down the $11 million option from the Reds. They have an excellent manager, a strong team, and after his TJ surgery, I doubt any team (at least any team in contention) will sign him as a definitive closer.
Also I hope Chooch gets a raise.— bingbangbong - Lets bring back Steve Carlton while we're at it... Maybe Marion Campbell will be Andy Reid's replacement.
— phillyinATL - FA is a 2-way street. I don't see any of those guys wanting to return to the Phillies for the kind of money they are willing to spend (there won't be much left after they lay out big cash for a power RF or 3B).— jklinger
- is dobbsy a fa? he's the one i'd love to see back here. solid bench guy, play third, first, corner of, first-rate ph. and cheap.— bubba church & granny hamner
- He declined the option because the Reds would have declined their side anyway dude. More of a "I quit so you cant fire me" thing... No chance Boras allows him to come back here, and I doubt he'd want to anyhow. None of these 3 will ever be in Philly Pinstripes again.— cdedrick05
- Myers would bring a fire this team sorely lacks.— Sidewinder7
- Would love to see Madson back as a set up man.— Flyers2001
- Please NO meyers...johnnyu— john ullman
