A Trade Deadline Retrospective. . . and a Happ start?
According to GM Pat Gillick, the Phillies were considering Manny Ramirez as a viable option at one point, but eventually turned their attention toward landing a starting pitcher in a three-way deal that fell through.
A Trade Deadline Retrospective. . . and a Happ start?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Lots of stuff to get to. Before I get into some of the details of the trade deadline negotiations, I thought I'd point out one of the most intriguing and bewildering developments of the day. General manager Pat Gillick said the Phillies were pondering an "adjustment" that would get J.A. Happ out of the bullpen. When asked if that adjustment involved sending Happ to the minor leagues, Gillick said that the Phillies were examining another "alternative." I'll tell you this: it isn't Brett Myers going to the bullpen. Beyond that, I have nothing concrete.
Gillick didn't say it was a definite. But everything the Phillies have said - particularly Charlie Manuel, who reiterated today that he views Happ as a starter - seems to indicate that they want the young lefty to get another major league start.
Now, onto the other business. . .
Gillick said the Phillies thought they had a chance to add a starting pitcher through a three-way trade that eventually fell through. He also said the Phillies were involved in discussions for Manny Ramirez, but that the asking price was too high. Ramirez eventually landed with the Dodgers.
Other notes:
1) The market for lefty relievers was well beyond what the Phillies were willing to pay. For example, the Marlins gave up a 21-year-old pitcher who Baseball America rated as the No. 5 prospect in the organization to land 38-year-old Arthur Rhodes.
2) Interest in short stop Jason Donald was significant, but it would have taken the right player for the Phillies to part with him.
3) Gillick and Manuel both said they are not disappointed that they did not add another piece. The silver lining: the Mets and Marlins did not significantly upgrade either.
Though the Phillies spent much of the past two days actively trying to land a lefthanded reliever in order to bolster their playoff chances, Major League Baseball's trading deadline passed at 4 p.m. today without any announced moves.
The Phillies had considered a number of players, including Pittsburgh's John Grabow, Atlanta's Will Ohman, San Francisco's Jack Taschner and Kansas City's Ron Mahay, but were unable to strike a deal.
The Phillies still could add a player before the end of the season, but any players involved in a trade would have to pass through waivers before being dealt. It isn't out of the question -- the Phillies added Jamie Moyer in that manner two years ago -- but general manager Pat Gillick said yesterday the likelihood of a deal decreases significantly once today's deadline passes.
"There are guys that slip through, but there is just a larger pool of players to pick from prior to (the deadline)," Gillick said.
The Phillies added righthander Joe Blanton earlier this month, but were hopeful to add a lefty reliever to supplement J.C. Romero in the bullpen. They also were exploring a possible deal for a hitter that could help bolster an offense that has been inconsistent for most of the last two months.
Striking a deal beyond July 31 can be difficult because rival clubs can block a trade by claiming a player off of waivers and forcing his current club to withdraw the waiver request and keep him on the team.
So while the Phillies may not be done adding personnel, all the major parts are likely in place for the playoff run.
Gillick is a disgrace to senior citizens everywhere.— Leron- reminder for all those who are ripping gillick...same guy who brought in moyer(after the trading deadline, no less), aquired lohse last year (then offered him more money than anyone else only to see boras overplay his hand), got some pretty decent role players (werth, dobbs, not sure but I think victorino). Oh yeah, and he completely pants'ed Eddie in Houston for Lidge. He's done some dumb stuff (eaton, garcia), but he's done more good than bad. So if you're going to complain at least say what he should have done, and also try to spell correctly. Makes you look double-dumb if you can't spell on top of a stupid comment.— vinni
- what a shock--the next time the Phils make a big deal at the deadline will be the 1st--any wonder why this team hasn't won a World Series in 28 years?
Comment removed.- I can't believe there are so many people who know so little about baseball. What could the Phillies possibly have traded that another club would want? All we have is Howard Utley Rollins and Hamels. We could trade Happ and Carrasco but they are not even in the top 50 of minor league prospects. We would have to package other players with them. Wait I know...we could trade Adam Eaton for Manny. People always want to trade nothing and get something. It just doesn't happen.— phillies fan
- More idiots than usual posting today... There was no deal out there that the Phils could have made. Teams wanted to raid our prospects (who we will need in about 1-2 years) or take players we need to win now. Who is expendable in the day to day lineup that teams would want? Or were we supposed to trade last years MVP due to an off year? Most of Philly fans make me sick the, but the few that are actually intelligent realize that there was no move tha blew us away. Making a trade simply to make one is what losers do... (Please see Braves, Reds, etc...) The Phills will win the divsion and NOBODY wants to see us in the playoffs! Pat haters shut up and remember where we were BEFORE Gillick. Quit listening to Eskin and WATCH a game or two!— aphillyphan
- It makes me sick to read from all the fools who say there wasn't any help out there. There have been players/starters for weeks and months let alone now. There were some decent relievers out there this week. Get it through your clouded minds that they don't want to spend for more pitching. Why do you think Myers is back, with no trade for a starter? If many of you are burned up about the inaction over the last 6-8 months you have every right to be.— Bob1
- The problem is not salary but they do not spend the money in scouting and developing players. If Carasco is such a great propect why did Gillick say last week that he is s future number 3! Way to devalue your players. Also did anyone else notice that all the big names who have been traded have come to the NL? Griffey does not count. He is washed up.— markf
- Ruiz needs to move as does Eaton and Myers, put Happ in starting rotation, Coste can start every game with the minor leage phenom that Pat would never include in a trade backing him up— reddevil
- Earlier today Jim Salisbury reported that ALL Manny Ramirez deals were dead. This afternoon, the LA-Boston-Pittsburgh deal goes down for Ramirez. Obviously Salisbury missed this one, and is not as tied-in as he thinks.— shoeshineboy
- Of course, we'd all be here in 2-3 years griping about the prospects who would then be in the bigs that the Phils traded away for some mid-level rent-a-pitcher this year...— DDiceRC
- Hey Phillies fan-How about Burrell for Manny? Oh wait Pat is having a career year in his contract year.. another shocker. How about J.A Happ for Pudge? Oh, that's right, Pat doesn't like the way he call a game. How about Madson for A.Beltre? How about a little creativity.....???
- Can you say Blanton???? They did warn us that they were only looking for a second-tier guy. Don't you guys listen!!!!! Basically what they have told us is the following: Al Davis says just win baby; the Phillies moto is just stay competitive boys so we can stuff our pockets... The Eagles do the same thing. At least the Flyers go for it, but come up short... GO FLYERS!!!!! I can't give my heart to these other Philly Teams.....— The Professor
- What's up with all the people saying 'who did you want?' 'What was out there.." fools. a ton got moved this year. CC, Griffey, the cubs picked up an ace. And look at the yankees...they picked up Nady, who is solid, and more to the point, they realized they could improve at catcher, and they went out and got one of the best in the game. Sure, they have more money then us, but don't try and fool me on some 'we're broke' bs. We're not broke. Names like Holiday hanging out there, Manny. And not have the pieces to make a move? Prices didnt even seem that high...look at the manny trade, and Farmsworth for Pudge?! Phills could still win it, but it is shamefull to have a such a great core group, but not the guts to play for the moment, and go for it all. We all could have predicted this trade deadline result months ago, and that it a bad sign— ThinkTwice
- MichaelZoe The Mets got CC? Hello, the Brewers got Sabathia. The Phillies have nothing other clubs want. Is it possible you believe the Phillies didn't even talk to the Indians? I really don't get how people on these boards don't get it. Most of these opinions sound like echos of H. Eskin who is clueless on the Philles and baseball. He may know football, but he does not know baseball.— phillies fan
