Burrell, Moyer update; GM meetings wrap-up
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Burrell, Moyer update; GM meetings wrap-up
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
UPDATE: 7:32 p.m.
I'll preface the ensuing note with a warning: don't be alarmed. Jamie Moyer and Pat Burrell both filed for free agency with the MLBPA this afternoon. That doesn't mean one or both are leaving, or that even one or both will wind up testing the waters. It's just a procedural thing that all free agents do. But it is worth noting. So consider it noted.
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The final meeting of the minds has ended here at the GM meetings in Dana Point. Ruben Amaro, Jr. just left the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort en route to a 12:30 p.m. flight back to Philly. We have lots of good stuff to delve into today, starting with the Phillies' future attempts at re-signing two of their arbitration-eligible players who will be free agents after next season.
Common sense tells you that this would be a good time to lock up outfielder Jayson Werth and reliever Ryan Madson. Both players are coming off career years (Werth moreso than Madson; Madson had better numbers in his first full season in the bigs). Both players will be free agents after the 2009 season. And the Phillies view both players as part of their future.
I wasn't able to get in touch with Werth's agent, but I talked to Scott Boras yesterday about Ryan Madson. I came away with the impression that it will be tough to get a deal done (which isn't a surprise, given Boras' reputation). For starters, Boras compared Madson's performance this season to the performance by Mariano Rivera in 1996, when he was the set-up man for Yankees closer John Wetteland. Granted, Boras is going to pump his client up as much as possible. Here are their respective numbers
Postseason (Rivera -1996, Madson -2008)
- Games: Rivera 8, Madson 10
- Innings: Rivera 13, Madson 12 2/3
- Runs: Rivera 1, Madson 3
- Hits: Rivera 10, Madson 10
- Strikeouts: Rivera 10, Madson 12
- Walks: Rivera 5, Madson 1
- Holds: Rivera 4, Madson 5
Regular season
- Games: Rivera 61, Madson 76
- Innings: Rivera 107 2/3, Madson 82 2/3
- ERA: Rivera 2.09, Madson 3.05
- Hits: Rivera 73, Madson 79
- Strikeouts: Rivera 130, Madson 67
- Walks: Rivera 34, Madson 23
- Wins: Rivera 8, Madson 4
- Home runs: Rivera 1, Madson 6
Obviously, if Boras and Madson think he will be able to duplicate his success from September through October this season for all of 2009, it will make more sense for them to either go to arbitration or settle on a one-year deal, then hit free agency. But if Madson, who had shoulder problems late in 2007 and early in 2008, decides some immediate security outweighs a potentially huge pay-day next offseason, a deal could get done.
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Troy Renck of the Denver Post talked to various executives about a potential deal for Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday. And the majority opinion held the Phillies to be one of the teams most likely to land the star. I'm sure the Phillies have inquired and will continue to explore the situation.
The one caveat often mentioned with Holliday is the gross disparity between his numbers at home and his numbers on the road. In 359 games at Coors Field, he has hit .357 with a .423 OBP and a .645 SLG. On the road, those numbers are .280/.348/.455. He averages one home run every 16.1 at-bats at home compared to one home run every 29.6 at-bats on the road.
That said, in 14 games at Citizens Bank Park, he has hit .283/.356/.547 while averaging a home run every 13.25 at-bats.
So the home/road issue might not be as big for the Phillies as it is for some other teams.
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For what it is worth, the Giants beat writer for the San Jose Mercury News wrote on his blog that he hears that the Phillies are willing to listen to offers for Jimmy Rollins. I wouldn't put too much stock in that. While the Phillies might listen, they have tremendous value in Rollins, who is a Gold Glove short stop and is locked in to a five-year, $40 million contract that looks tremendously economical given how he has performed since signing it in 2005.
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Speaking of middle infielders, Jason Donald's stock has soared in the last year. He is currently tearing up the Arizona Fall League, which comes on the heels of a dynamite performance at Double A Reading this season (.307, 14 home runs) and a spring training game in which he hit two home runs against the Blue Jays.
The Phillies have been playing him some at third base in the AFL, and I'd lood for him to get more time there next season in the minors. Pedro Feliz is signed through next season. If Donald continues to perform, he could be an option there for 2010.
Comment removed.
I think Donald's future in the majors is at third the same way Ryne Sandberg’s and Robbie Alomar's were second base. Both of these guys were shortstop in the minors, if I am not mistaken, and were converted to second basemen. Alomar because of his no-so-strong arm and Sandberg because of his range. In Donald’s case, I think his defense is a little suspect. Don’t be shocked if he becomes an outfielder. I won’t trade Rollins unless some team gives you a Jason Bay-type leftfielder and major league-ready shortstop to replace him and a nice prospect or two. Rollins is too valuable to this current team. About Madson, Scott Boras always try to overvalue his clients. He is already comparing him to Mariano Rivera when he set up for Wettleland in NY. Please! Madson has to prove next year that the second half he had this year was not fluke. Then Boras can start talking about Rivera. Varsho, Rollins is an evereday player and a former MVP who just won his second GG, Lincecum an every fifth day pitcher. Licecum is very good, but Rollins is more valuable, in my opinion. I would not trade him head-to-head. Not many pitchers are traded for very good position players. They get traded for prospects most of the time.— EL Zorro- Rowand is due 4 years, $52 million. If SF takes Eaton and Jenkins and throws in $5-$10 million, the Phils should consider that— 93phils
- Pitching, Phillies, Pitching. That's how the championship drought was ended. The bats only exploded in one game of the playoffs. This was about solid starting pitching and a bullpen that makes the late innings a non-entity.— jreese
- Keep in mind Madson blew the lead twice in late innings in the World Series. So he wasnt all that dominant in the playoffs— 93phils
- I traded Rollins and Flash to Texas for A-Rod on an old MLB game. THe deal worked out, but A-Rod was protecting Rolen in that lineup. I wouldn't trade J-Roll. However, I might send Madsen and Dobbs for something of worth. Buy Low, Sell High...— Phandom
- Comment removed.
- Utley is really getting beat up playing 2nd base. I'd move Utley to left field where he could stay healthier and stronger but only if the Phils have a sure replacement to put at 2nd base.— justablogger2
- Good point on Rollins. He is due 3 years, $24 million in the remainder of his contract. Keep in mind, this is the same amount of money Eaton will be getting from the Phils. And Burrell had made $36.5 million the last 3 years. Also consider, in 2010, Rollins will be making $7.5 million. Utley will be making $15 million— 93phils
- Good point on Rollins. He is due 3 years, $24 million in the remainder of his contract. Keep in mind, this is the same amount of money Eaton will be getting from the Phils. And Burrell had made $36.5 million the last 3 years. Also consider, in 2010, Rollins will be making $7.5 million. Utley will be making $15 million— 93phils
- Why not move Utley to left and bring Donald up to play 2nd? Is that crazy?— Steve27
- I'd take Holiday over Burrell in an instant.— chestercountyvoter
- Mariano Rivera? Boras is smoking crack.— Tartan69
- I wonder how Utley would react if he moved from third. Utley is on pace to put up better career numbers than Jeff Kent, who is probably a hall of famer because he played 2B. If he didnt, he would not be a hall of famer. I wonder if stuff like this is in Utley's mind...— 93phils
- 93phils, I don't think that Utley worries about the HOF and I don' think he worries about endorsement deals either. That's why he said that World F------ Champions. When the Phillies drafted him they tried him at third in the minors to eventually replace Scott Rolen at third, but I guess he got pretty good a second. Then we got Polanco and later David Bell to play third. So that was the end of it.— EL Zorro
