Phillies rumor mill update
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Phillies rumor mill update
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
In Ken Rosenthal's latest dispatch for FoxSports.com, he provides us with the latest indication that the expectations harbored by some Phillies fans about a Cole Hamels trade are unrealistic. Rosenthal says that the Rangers are unwilling to trade Mike Olt, Jurickson Profar or Martin Perez for a rental player. Olt is a guy who many fans have targeted as the Phillies' third baseman of the future, and you have to think that Ruben Amaro Jr. would target him as well. The 23-year-old entered Sunday hitting .292/.403/.574 with 22 home runs and 85 strikeouts in 281 at-bats at Double-A Frisco. Only problem is, the Rangers have asked him to play some first base this season, raising the possibility that they find a place for him at the position on the big league level. Conventional wisdom had suggested that Olt was blocked by Adrian Beltre at third and thus could be had in a trade.
The simple truth is that general managers are going to be reluctant to part with a legit prospect at a premium position in exchange for two months of a player, even one who is as good as Hamels. As we noted in our earlier breakdown of the trade deadline, C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee both landed Top 50 prospects, as rated by Baseball America, but both of those prospects were first basemen.
-ESPN's Buster Olney says that the Phillies' asking price for Shane Victorino is "very, very high right now." That isn't atypical of two weeks before the trade deadline. No harm in asking for the moon. In reality, though, the Phillies are probably going to have to settle for an uninspiring package. Take, for example, the Braves' trade for Michael Bourn last year. Atlanta gave up four players, none of which were in Baseball America's Top 100, or even among the organization's top five prospects. Brett Oberholtzer was ranked the ninth prospect in the organization by BA, but he projects as little more than a back-of-the-rotation starter or a middle reliever. Paul Clemens, a 22-year-old righty, might have a little more upside. Again, though, not a top prospect. BA didn't even have him in the Braves' Top 10. The other pieces were Juan Abreu, a reliever with command problems, and Jordan Schafer, who was once a top prospect but has struggled in the majors. And that was for a center fielder who was in the middle of a better season and who had another year left on his contract. If the Phillies can get a piece that can help them out of the bullpen or at the back of the rotation in the next couple seasons, it will be a successful trade.
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Thanks for the fact-based reality check. I'd prefer they just keep Hamels and let him take a couple month victory lap so the fans can show him their appreciation. Though Hamels would probably love being plopped into October baseball. Since you are the fact-based writer can you write a factual column about Dom Brown when he is ready to come up. The guy came up to the Phillies, dealt with all the tinkering and coaching- looping swing etc. Finally put it all together making contact, getting on base, getting hits last July...exactly as one would draw it up, hitting .296 with a .398 OBP as a regular last July- good/great numbers for any player at any level-- and he got unceremoniously jettisoned with only 1 major league at bats and 20 spring training at bats- where he hit .300 with a .983 OPS- since. Didn't the Phillies realize they HAVE to develop and rely on young, low cost players to sustain success and not go out of their way to try to demoralize them?— jtj06- It will all be a moot point after RAJ signs Hamels next week. In 2013 we will be back in the playoffs.— Joe at the shore
- Gee, thanks for ken Rosenthal's amazing insight into the Hamels trade potential. What sort of morons does he think he's reporting to? Of course a team is not going to trade key prospects for a two month rental. Just another example that FoxSports baseball reporting is as bad as it gets.
Please no more stupid commentary from Rosenthal.— Blue Hen - Give him five years and the money. TRADE him at that point or keep him.— Kcsplash
- Justin Upton for Victorino. Both need a new home.— Kcsplash
- Justin Upton for Victorino. Both need a new home.— Kcsplash
- if, as many posters and these national sportswriters believe, the Phils will not receive fair compensation for a stud like Cole Hamels because of his "rental player" status, then how does the GM of this team not know this as well, preferably before it gets to this point?
Because he did not get Cole extended before the season, and allowed the events of this season to play out (Cole's very good year coupled with Matt Cain's high $$ signing and the Phils sinking to the basement), he has put himself in a very weak position.
Now, we stand to lose Cole and get less than fair value in return.
Is there anyone on this site whom would not lose your job for the very same stupid mistake at your place of employment?— advantasux - I can't look back at the trades for Oswalt, Pence. We were close at the time, thought they would be the missing pieces...they were rational moves at the time.
If we can't get any player of value,, then I say hold on to Hamels, Victorino. Worst case we play well at the end of the season, and then let victorino walk.
Do I think they will make the playoffs? No. But until they are eliminated, I will hope they win and move closer to the wild card. And if they start playing better, we can at least enjoy watching the games again (something we've taken for granted with the past 6-7 seasons)....but if you trade these two for 2 single A ballplayers? Why? Who cares?
— kgood - by the way, these comments that are angry about trading the farm system for Roy Halladay? Are you kidding me?
If you want to belittle regular season baseball for six months and then turn on the playoffs, i suppose that's fine. But we've had the chance to watch a hall of fame pitcher.
Would you give back the 2nd postseason no hitter for Kyle Drabek???— kgood - Lee is expendable and under contract. Someone (Yankees / Angels) may over pay for him at the deadline and we need to get a proven all tar in return for any position other than catcher or 1B. Every other position is open for upgrade and the others can be off loaded at the deadline or during the off season..........Cole must be resigned and built around.— Northcountry
- It is interesting to me that the Yankees have such old players and yet do so well. Maybe 38-year olds understand something about conditioning that younger players don't, and about how to play baseball, a difficult game mentally because it is full of failure.— camdenlawprof
- The reality is that the Phillies are the oldest team in the major leagues. I would trade anyone over 30 like Shane, Howard, Utley, Polanco, Rollins, Halliday and Lee for anything you can get. I would then try to rebuild around Ruiz and Hamels. Also, I would NEVER give someone more than a three year contract.— BobSG
- I would trade doc before lee or hamels, he only has one year left on his contract and is 35-36 years old
— DONDEN31 - HEY BOBSG, RUIZ IS OVER 30 ALSO— DONDEN31
- Wouldn't the Phils get a compensatory 1st-round pick if Hamels leaves as an FA? Sounds better than the options given here.— Edward Creed
