More Vegas Musings
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More Vegas Musings
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Heading into these winter meetings, Ruben Amaro Jr. had three options for improving the Phillies:
1) Dip into the free agent waters.
2) Hammer out a trade.
3) Put down a milli on 13 and pray for a larger bank roll.
Right now, option No. 2 is all the buzz in Vegas as the Phillies have reportedly entered The Fray in the Jake Peavy talks. Jayson Stark from ESPN.com has a good overview of the Peavey situation here. In a nutshell, the Cubs want Peavey, and the Padres want to move him, but the Cubs don't have the prospects the Padres are looking for. Which is where the Phillies could find themselves involved. According to numerous reports, including the usually dead-on Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, the Padres wouldn't mind getting their hands on lefty prospect J.A. Happ. Scott Miller over at CBSSports.com also throws Chris Coste's name into the mix.
I like DeRosa, despite the fact that he is a Penn guy (just kidding). He has put together three straight solid seasons and would give the Phils tremendous flexibility both in the infield and the outfield.
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We began our first post of the day yesterday by wondering the thought process that went into baseball's decision to hold its annual winter meetings in Las Vegas. In short, High Cheese wondered whether it wasn't the brightest idea to take hundreds of MLB employees who are banned from betting on baseball to a city that features copious amounts of alcohol and legal sports books. Regardless, as a follow up, here is a story in the Boston Herald today about Vegas' sudden realization that the baseball futures market might be compromised by the meetings in Vegas. In other words, should an enterprising media member or low-level non MLB staffer catch wind of the Yankees' imminent signing of CC Sabathia, it wouldn't be terribly difficult for said person to scamper across the lobby at the Bellagio and throw a grand down on the Yankees to win the World Series before their odds drop. It'd be the gambling equivalent of insider trading. Methinks Joe Pesci wouldn't be thrilled about that.
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As a general rule of thumb, I process any information generated by any national writer other than Ken Rosenthal or the ESPN fellas rather judiciously. Don't get me wrong. Most of them do a terrific job. But sometimes it is unclear where the burden of proof lies. So take the following for what it is worth, but SI.com's Jon Heyman is reporting that the Phillies are "believed to have" offered Jamie Moyer two years and $14 million, while Moyer is holding out for two years and $18 million. What does "believed to have" mean? Believed by whom? The passive voice and speculative baseball writing - it is a beautiful thing.
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Mark Loretta, once rumored to be on the Phillies radar, has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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A Japanese news service is reporting that the Astros have interest in So Taguchi.
Moyer is making this about the money, and I did not see it coming to that. Sure, he deserves to be paid well, but I thought he would be comfortable going year to year with the Phillies. I did not think he would consider playing elsewhere. He is not a durable player at age 46. If the Phils can't get him for $14M, then they should just move on. He is a good leader and helps the younger guys, but he is just a 5-6 inning pitcher at this point.— GHOSTPHAYCE- I'm disappointed about the developments or lack thereof with Moyer. However, when your team wins the world series everyone wants to get theirs. I guess I can't blame him since he is 46 and his value will probably never be higher.— wearethechampions
- oops i just made a peavy... hamels already owns santana this year— aman1711
- Ed Wade is trying to corner the market on useless bench players. Matt Kata, So Taguchi, Michael Bourn...— HappyPete
- I would like Moyer back as well, but not for 2 years guaranteed. He had a great regular season last year, but besides the World Series where did pitch a great game he was terrible in the playoffs. The year before he had a plus 5.00 E.R.A. I think the Phillies are being fair with a one year deal and an option for a 2nd.— charliem
- I have heard a ton of people commenting on how they are disappointed in Jamie for making it "be about the money." Firstly, how do we have ANY idea what is really going on. Secondly, Jamie is one of the most charitable people in professional sports. It is not fair to make comments about him being someone after money or anything of the sort. The fact of the matter is he won 16 games for a World Series winner last year and he wants market value, which for starting pitchers is high. Eaton is making 8+ million this year for goodness sake. You think Jamie wants to be looking down at him wondering how on earth he is making more money? Let's be rational.— yougottabelieve26
- I remember Mitch Williams saying he believes Moyer could pitch to age 50. However, one never knows, and the odds aren't in an athlete's favor when it comes to age. I would think Moyer would want to go out near the top of his game, so why not take the 1-year with an option? If he does well and still seems up to it at the end of the season, he'll earn another year. If not, the Phils could give him a job as a pitching coach somewhere in the organization.....I understand his feelings, but I hope they can work it out. Fact is, he iS still an asset to the rotation. (Wonder if he's heard of interest by other teams willing to give him more years....)— gbrettfan
- I just dont see why you'd want to give up a fairly promising pitching prospect(and a lefty at that) for a 34 year guy, no matter how decent his numbers are. If we need flexibility in the infield for a month or two, we can always give Donald a shot, and if we spend our resources on a pitcher, the outfield is not as pressing anymore. Now, if you're talking about Happ & Coste (because clearly you're not getting Peavy for Happ straight up) for Peavy, thats worth serious consideration. I love coste, but if you're turning a prospect and an aging-though-still-pretty-effective catcher into a front line pitcher then you're doing ok...Ruiz is pretty much the everyday starter now anyway, and we've got pretty decent prospect behind him in Marson...— K,M
- Murph...good stuff. I am reading one big impediment to the 3/4 way deal is whether in fact Cubs owners can or should pull trigger on the $63 million owed Peavy thru 2012. Have to admit I am amazed that the Cubs GM and President have that much room to negotiate and encumber the next owner, who won't emerge till end of January. I think that ultimately, this deal will collapse due to the high price for Peavy and the length of his current deal. K-rod to the Mets looks like it is going to get done. That will substantially change the balance of power, at least for 1 -2 years, in the NL East. That guy has the most violent pitching motion I have ever seen...my kids and brother in law from Venezuela watched him warm up last summer at CBP...scary. I just hope he breaks down quick in NY.— bigredmachinefan
- Forgedaboutit, Moyer and Larosa, they're old, old, old! Happ is going to be a star and so is Donald. It's time the Phillies got off their conservative asses and gave their hot prospects a shot. Look how they stiffled Utley and Howard! They also need to take a good look at Mayberry who they acquired at a high price when they gave up on Golson.— brinkmang
- 1)Why can't the Phillies steal Peavy? It appears that the prospects that the Padres want come from the Phils. Give them Happ, Carrasco and any other prospect they want aside from Donald. Hamels and Peavy as the Phils 1 & 2 starters. They would have a really good shot at defending the championship. Also, there would be no need for bringing back Moyer. Why fascilitate the Cubs' run at a championship? 2)K-Rod. Who cares? The Mets are replacing one closer with another. They are not any better than they were at the start of last season. A closer is only worth something if you lead going into the ninth inning.— syddan26
- Peavy has a no trade clause and the Phillies are one of the teams he does not want to be traded to. Also, I read a couple of weeks ago that he wants his last year ($20 million) guarantee by his new team. Forget it.— EL Zorro
- I'm going to throw something totally crazy out there, let me know what you think: Trade Ryan Howard to SD for Peavy and sign Texiera. This gives the Phils two solid aces that will be on the team long-term (Peavy is signed until 2013 I think) and we get Texiera. So basically it would be Howard for Peavy and Texiera. Too crazy?— mraltomare
- mraltomare, if the Phillies miraculously find $180 million somewhere in the next week, then that's a great idea. Otherwise, keep dreaming.— toccheyhockey
- Moyer had once said he wants to be able to say that he played in 4 decades (80-89, 90-99, 00-09, 10-19) so a 2 year contract would guarantee that. So that might be partly why he wants a 2 year deal.— tokar
