Juan Pierre makes sense for Phillies
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Juan Pierre makes sense for Phillies
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
UPDATED (11:55 a.m.): The Phillies have agreed to a minor league deal with Juan Pierre with an invitation to spring training.
EARLIER: According to Comcast Sports Net, the Phillies have had "serious" discussions with Juan Pierre about bringing the speedy 34-year-old left fielder to Philadelphia.
The move would make sense because the Phillies do not currently have an experienced fall-back plan in case the combination of Laynce Nix and John Mayberry Jr. does not work out. Pierre has logged at least 400 plate appearances in each of his 11 full seasons as a major leaguer. The two current candidates to start the season at left field -- Laynce Nix and John Mayberry Jr. -- have reached 400 plate appearances once between them (and that was back in 2004, when Nix was a 23-year-old for the Texas Rangers).
But it would be hard to get too excited about such a move.
Pierre won't give you anything in the way of power, and he doesn't leg out nearly as many doubles and triples as he did during his prime with the Rockies and Marlins. Last season, he recorded a career-low 27 stolen bases and was caught a league-leading 17 times. You don't have to do the math to know that ain't a good rate. He'll be 34 years old, and his .277 batting average and .335 on base percentage over the last two seasons are both below his career averages.
Additionally, it would leave Charlie Manuel attempting to cobble together two everyday players with a variety of detached body parts. It would give him two left-handed hitters (Nix and Pierre) along with two right-handed hitters (John Mayberry and Ty Wigginton) for left field, and two left-handed hitters (Nix and Jim Thome) and two right-handed hitters (Mayberry and Wigginton) for first base (until Ryan Howard returns), with Nix having played sparingly at the position and Thome having not played there at all in five years.
Frankly, if it gets to the point where Juan Pierre is your best veteran option as an everyday left fielder, then you probably don't have much to lose by bringing Domonic Brown up and letting him play on a regular basis.
That said, if Pierre is willing to sign for minimal dollars to reunite with former Marlins teammate Dontrelle Willis as a speed/base-reaching threat off the bench (he has excellent career numbers against lefties), the Phillies wouldn't be any worse for the wear.
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One other note -- ESPN is reporting that the Yankees and Raul Ibanez have some mutual interest in a deal.
This comment has been deleted.— d1955h- Yep, retreads like Cody Ross, Pat Burrel and Aaron Rowand for the Giants in 2009. How'd that end up again???
- Actually, Aaron Rowand didn't do much for that team.
If you'd paid attention a few years ago, I didn't want the Phillies to let Pat Burrell go.
The joker in the deck was Cody Ross, who never did anything before nor has he done anything since that stretch run in 2009.— BEMiller - HELLO ITS NOT 2003 ITS 2012, WTF?????— VANIMALS SWEATY GOGGLES
- Shudder to think of Raul as a Yankee....sad development.— Ed3
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Lived in Ft Lauderdale while Jaun was there, what a pain in the arse the guy is for opposing pitchers while he's on base. Hopefully he's got something left in the tank.
— phillyboobird - Good grief!
Have you been cheating. You're not supposed to pay attention to what actually happens, don't you know?
He doesn't strike out a lot and gets on base about 35% of the time. That amounts to a pitcher's pain!— BEMiller - Let's see what he brings to camp before everyone kills him.....this guy used to kill us when he was with the Marlins. Good defense and good speed, so let's just see what happens.....
While keeping this window of opportunity open, it's also imperative RAJ get back to stocking this farm system with high quality players. Not sure what role Pat Gillick has in that aspect these days, I know his first love was the minors and scouting......I sure hope he is still doing that for us......along with Joe Jordan, whom I hope is up to the task in filling Chuck LaMars's shoes.— DelawareRiverRat - @beegal99
I agree with you, the idea of signing him to a springing training type contract is not a major cap attack or anything, and maybe he can have a revival like Ibanez and Werth. When the Phillies signed both of those guys, it was during their down years and look what they did in pinstripes (Even if Ibanez slumped in his later down the line)?
Give him a shot at least before you call for blood. Hell, wearing red could be good for him. And, it will not be a big impact financially.
— theAngelsofBlood - He is a guy who can lay down a bunt. We had almost nobody who can. So what he doesn't hit HRs. Nobody else does either.— 4thand10
- Remember Luis Castillo from last year? Same likelihood of Pierre making the team.— LennyFromPhilly
- One big difference.When the brought Castillo in (and I agree that was a waste of time), it was to see if he could be a fulltime starter at second while Chase was on the mend with no true timetable of return...If Pierre makes the club, it'll be as a 5th outfielder,25th man on the roster...He's been around, still has specific talents that could help a team, especially one with such little speed off the bench...It's all on him if he's able to officially transition into being an effective role player....think of a 1-1 game with two out in the bottom of the eigth..and a Brian Schneider is on first...or second...Pierre would be a pleasant sight. — bearsfriend
- The Phillies have no O.B.S. at all or a cather to through the guy out at cather either— wes
- The Phillies have no O.B.S. at all or a cather to through the guy out at cather either— wes
- The Tonner read this all three times you posted it and it still doesn't make sense. Time to start slugging Genny Cream Ale and then the Tonner will try to read it again and see if it makes sense.
