Add Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot to your list of available infielders
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Add Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot to your list of available infielders
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
This is the time of year where general managers attempt to exploit the needs of their brethren, so expect to see plenty of names popping up in the rumor mill. Today's edition comes from San Francisco, where Brian Sabean is apparently attempting to part with either Ryan Theriot or Mike Fontenot so that he does not have to pay them a quarter of their non-guaranteed salaries by releasing them (Theriot will make $1.25 million, Theriot $1.05 million). This, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.
The Phillies could conceivably have interest in either player. You would probably label Theriot the better defender, although he is a stronger second baseman than shortstop. Fontenot is primarily a second baseman, although he can play short.
From this vantage point, Theriot is the better fit. He's a career .282/.344/.353 hitter who stole at least 20 bases in the four seasons leading up to 2011. Fontenot carries a career line of .263/.304/.377 although he hit just .227/.304/.377 in 252 plate appearances for the Giants last season.
All that being said, trading for either player would make the Phillies responsible for their current contracted salaries. If they wait, the Giants could end up releasing one of the players. At that point, the Phillies could try to sign either one for less.
We should know more about their urgency tomorrow, when Chase Utley is scheduled to speak with reporters about his ailing knees for the first time since early in spring training.
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On another note. It looks as if turning away Madson was a good thing. He could be out for awhile.— simplefreedom- Out for the year! Sucks for Mad Dog...— akaufman16
- Tommy John and just maybe that fills in some of why he went so long not signed. The mystery contract may have been a Boras lie to get some fool to give him the big bucks, 44 mil.when word was already out Madson might be damaged goods. Makes more sense that Rueben reneging on a contract for one of his own guys.
— DUDESKINS - Puleeze, Freddy is a better fit than two guys that the Cubs could not use. Time to reduce the old guys and use the kids in the Pen too. Polly will be back and Orr looks good today. Enough fiddling except with the Pen.— Koons
- I might be wrong about this, and am open to correction, but I believe Stark's report of Theriot's availability is financially driven. Giants owe him 900K if they cut him by a certain date, full pay (1.6 millish if after that). Phils acquire him by that date (I think it's a day next week), they'd be obliged for the contract, but if they wait it out and Giants cut him to save the 700K, the Phils could then sign him and just carry an obligation of the minimum (465K?).
He's definitely a better offensive player than the likes of a Valdez, and certainly Martinez, and depending on how desperately the Phils view the situation, he'd be pretty helpful that way. He's pretty average defensively. TLR got good mileage out of him by picking and choosing spots.— KBland - Gotta have another multi-position infielder, especially since Martinez is out with a broken foot. Polanco will be fine, Rollins will be fine. Galvis will start at 2nd base, but what then? Orr is a liability. One decent Spring game does not make him an option. Theriot would make the most sense since he can play all infield positions plus is a .284 career hitter. However, until SF makes up its mind, all is on hold.— drhoffman
- They can have Luna for the minimum. He doesn't play SS but with Freddy making the team, he can slide to SS when Rollins takes a day off. Luna can play 2B, 3B and 1B has a little pop.— EL Zorro
- 2 little, skinny, French second basemen? Let's give the kid a change first, maybe his bat will surprise us.— jking91
- I don't care how good Galvis is in the field. We can't afford a starting 2nd baseman who struggles to reach the Mendoza line. A full season in AAA is what he needs right now. — SteveS11
- I would gladly take Ryan Theriot over Martinez. What a pest in the playoffs last year!— dasher
- I'd go after Theriot.— DocPhillyfan
- Yes Doc, I always like Theriot and think he is underrated, streaky yes, but a good defensive infielder and an upgrade over Martinez or Valdez..Go after Theriot— TexasYankee
- The bad news is that it appears that Utley may be finished. Its at least 50-50 he announces his retirement tomorrow. His knees are shot; surgery does not appear to be a viable option and I think he gutted out last year on cortizone shots. Thank you for 2008. World F'in Champions.— ManU63
- I would be totally shocked if Utley announces his retirement. What wouldn't surprise me so much is if he says that he's having surgery and will miss the entire 2012 season. But I think if he has any choice, he'd go to the American League and DH before he'd retire. — SteveS11
- I don't see Utley retiring. I'm not sure how he'd fit as a DH since he's lost power due to his knee problems. I'd put odds on him finding a way to be on the field this year like he did last year. I think his condition worsens in our collective imaginations as time passes and we hear no specifics. Maybe tomorrow tells us something but it is Utley ... not exactly an open book. — s
