Amaro talks free agents, Utley, Howard and more
With less than two months until spring training, Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. updates status of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
Amaro talks free agents, Utley, Howard and more
Ryan Lawrence, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies introduced two new players on Tuesday - third baseman Michael Young and starting pitcher John Lannan.
Afterward, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. answered several questions that would make the gathering kind of qualify as his "State of the Offseason" as Christmas nears.
Here is some of what Amaro had to say:
His thoughts on Michael Young, third baseman: "As far as Mike playing third base, we had enough historical information. It wasn’t that long ago when we had these kinds of questions about Placido Polanco. He had been playing second base at a very high level. I know Michael at various parts of his career has been a Gold Glove caliber defender. For him to go back to third base, its not a great concern of ours. We feel like that he’s going to be able to do that and handle it fine.
On the state of finding another outfielder this winter: "We’re still trolling through the possibility of adding another piece there. And we’re also considering the possibility with a double platoon. That’s a possibility as well. We’ve done some things that have helped our club at a couple of different levels. I don’t think the process of trying to help improve our club stops until the end of the season."
On using the phrase "cautiously optimistic" regarding Chase Utley, and what that means: "When a guy is down for two years and doesn’t play full seasons in the two years prior you have to be a little concerned. But we think Chase has learned and we have learned to manage whatever he’s got going on in his knees pretty well. I think he has a pretty good understanding of it, we have a pretty good understanding of it and I think he’s going to be fine. But you just never know. Obviously he’s got knee issues. Hopefully he’ll be able to put himself in the position – we think he’s put himself in the position to be ready to go out of the chute this spring. But that remains to be seen. We’ll see what happens."
On Ryan Howard's progression from the Achilles injury: "I think Ryan right now, he’s been in the process of still getting 100 percent strength, he was never really at 100 percent, I don’t know how close he’ll be when spring starts. But typically it takes a full year to gain your full strength capacity with an injury like that, and I think he’s getting closer to that. From what Ryan was doing prior to his wedding and his honeymoon, he was doing well. I think he continued that program when he went on his honeymoon. We’ve been monitoring him and he’s seemed to be doing well. We’ll find out more once he gets back."
On whether draft pick compensation is a concern when scouring free agent market, as Phils hold 16th overall pick: "If we think it s the right guy to sign we ll sign him. I mean, a lot of it depends. First-round picks are important, but at the same time if we feel like short term, long term we should go that route we re still trying to figure it out."
The Mike Adams pick up is key. If he's 90 percent it will take pressure off the starters and young relievers. The overuse of the starters has to stop. The Phils will make the 2013 postseason.— escapedcamden4monterey- I wouldn't have lumped Michael Young in the same sentence as Placido Poloanco....that didn't turn out well— scootch
- Utley was spotted bowling with Andrew Bynum— scootch
- smoothelic -- I have for past several years been posting what Phils should do (and even gave credit to the rube the one time in past 3 years that he did something right -- belatedly signing Hamels)-- it isn't second guessing when I have a few hundred posts from last winter 2011 saying which offensive players (Ramirez, Beltran, etc) and relievers Phils should sign..it isn't second guessing when in 2009 i said that the Lee giveaway for peanuts was evidence of the biggest imbecile to run a team , when in 2010 I said that the Howard extension would destroy this franchise for years - if you havent been reading my posts, then that's your loss but I don't have to "prove" my worthiness as a vicarious g.m. to every new nitwit twerp that joins this discussion --my point is not to discuss what players the Phils should get (I would have signed Hamilton and a quality starter) when the current g.m. doesn't listen to me and is in any event incapable of putting togther a championship-caliber team as I documented in a dozen postings above...— warbiscuit
- Moronic tool was involved in all negotiations, if Ramirez or Beltran liked another offer or simply wanted to go to another team Tooly knew that, he thinks RAJ has first dibs at any player we wants. Now if he overpays to get that player El Stool Sample would be the first one screaming like a moron, if the player got hurt he would be the first one to complain, yeah Mr. after the fact waits until the player performs (see Grilli) and then complains RAJ missed the boat. He says he would have signed Hamilton AFTER HE SIGNED, point to one post before he signed where you stated that, THERE isn’t one. Now if he signed Hamilton you'd be certain El Dopey would be complaining. You would have signed Hamilton? Does Hamilton have any say in where he goes or is he forced to play where El Tooly tells him to play? Moronic dope — DogBiscuitthedope
- Does anyone really belive Utley is going to play in April and May? He made it to the last year of his contract. Well done.— TomO
- @dogbiscuitthedope -- wow, what brilliant rejoinders, amazing hahahahaahaha --oh, you're just too much... hilarious...— warbiscuit
- DogBiscuitthedope: "who they gave up is irrelevant" -- a statement that categorically proves complete and utter stupidity— warbiscuit
- Stool Sample you said Pence was overrated and RAJ can't judge talent, you said Sabean is a great talent evaluator, why would he select an overrated player to put in his outfield to get to the playoff? I know now that you made a complete tool of yourself (again) you'll babble something about chemistry or you'll say we wasn't used correctly. Tell me El Stupid why did Sabean trade for Pence, did he not address a need in the pre-season like you claim RAJ did? Same move of the same player you moronic toad — DogBiscuitthedope
- Gillick: 3 World Championhips
Sabean: 2 World Championships
clueless imbecile: 0 --destruction of a once top franchise— warbiscuit - Hey Dopey Stool Sample both Gillick and Sabean were GM's for about 14 yrs before their team (not them, they do not play idiot) won a championship. By El Tool standards they should have been fired 4 times over? So tell us El Moron why did it take them 14 yr? Please can't wait for this moronic explanation — DogBiscuitthedope
- Warbiscuit:
Jobs as a MLB general manager: 0
Parents that played MLB: 0
Scholarships to play at Stanford: 0
Times in NCAA World Series: 0
Years as a professional ball player in MLB: 0
Times he is a nitwit, dope: ALWAYS!!!— michael2_19030 - after "dope", "tool", "El Moronic Dopey", "moronic donkey", "pathetic tool", we've now arrived at "Stool Sample" (apparently capitalized)... voters for Ron Paul and supporters of Ruben Amaro sure have an advanced vocabulary and persuasive arguments— warbiscuit
- Sabean LITERALLY has had a effect storm happen onto his team the last three years. Cody Ross. Aubrey Huff. Pat Burrell. Vogelsong. Marco Scutaro. Angel Pagan. Andres Torres. Edgar Renteria. Freddy Sanchez. Theriot.
I mean c'mon. Seriously. Except for the postseason, most these guys would be extra men or bench players. They had terrific postseasons and couldn't duplicate that success ever again and now Sabean is a genius!!!!
That Aaron Rowand deal Sabean constructed was literally one of the most HORRIBLE deals ANY GM has ever given any player. Def Top 10 worst.....— michael2_19030 - michael thinks that becuase Rube is the son of a major leaguer and played baseball, ergo, he must be qualified to be a g.m. despite the fact that he has 4-yr record with 40 errors of commission and omission that prove that he isn;t ... fyi my academic credentials and resume far exceeds Ruben's B.A. from Stanford, which if you went to a decent college, you'd know is meaningless, as he obviously got in as the son of a major leaguer and as an affirmative action admission since his 4 years demonstrate that he is extremely unintelligent— warbiscuit
