Slim Pickins - Available options to replace Utley or Polanco
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Slim Pickins - Available options to replace Utley or Polanco
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The last time Chase Utley went on the disabled list, the Phillies quickly swung a trade with the White Sox for Tadahito Iguchi, who filled in admirably and helped keep the team's playoff chances alive.
This time around, here is a look at some players who either are, or could be, available:
1. Mark Grudzielanek - The 40-year-old veteran, who did not play last season, was 30-for-110 (.273) with a .328 OBP and .273 SLG with no home runs for the Indians this season. He's a career .986 fielder at second base. He's available to sign.
2. Ty Wigginton - The Orioles have a scout on the Phillies here in Cincinnati, and the two organizations have a familiar relationship. The knock on Wigginton is his fielding. But despite mediocre fielding percentages at second base (six errors, .963 in 36 games) and third base (two errors, .833 in six games), he does play a variety of positions and would be able to get some at-bats in the outfield when Utley returns. He's believed to be available via trade.
3. Aki Iwamura - Currently at Triple-A for the Pirates, who designated him for assignment earlier this month but were unable to find anybody to trade for him. It doesn't help that Iwamura is guaranteed $4.85 million this season. He's available via trade.
Here are guys who have some name-value, but probably aren't fits:
1. Edwin Encarnacion - The 27-year-old Encarnacion is a right-handed bat who can still hit for power despite paltry contact numbers. In 120 at-bats for the Blue Jays this season, he hit 9 home runs, but hit just .200 with a .298 OBP. He hit .225/.320/.374 with 13 home runs in 293 at-bats for the Reds and Blue Jays last season. Encarnacion has a poor .938 career fielding percentage at third base, where he has played 569 of his 571 games. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment earlier this month.
2. Garrett Atkins - Atkins hasn't been a productive major leaguer since he hit .286 with 21 home runs in 2008. Since then, he has hit .223/.299/.326 with 10 home runs in 494 at-bats, including .214 with one home run in 140 at-bats for the Orioles this season. He's only 30, but was released by the Orioles.
3. Kaz Matsui - He fell out of favor with the Astros and was ultimately shipped to the Rockies, where he his hitting .228/.298/.287 in 26 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Other players who could be available, but are unlikely because of either their salary or their likely asking price:
1. Dan Uggla, Marlins
2. Kelly Johnson, Diamondbacks
3. Jhonny Peralta, Indians
4. Rickie Weeks, Brewers
5. Aaron Hill, Blue Jays
6. Miguel Tejada, Orioles
According to Jim Salisbury, Ramson will be called up soon. He's been having some knee problems and they're taking some precautions with him. Jimmy mentioned some of the players Murph posted as possibilities, including Tejada and Wigginton.— EL Zorro- phils have become the orioles...congrats, and you already have BAEZ here!— tooltime
- None of the guys in the last list (because of salary/asking price) are going to be here because they're all starter caliber and they're not going to replace Utley or Polanco when they're off the DL. So that leaves the guys from the other lists, one of which we can probably expect to be here sooner, rather than later. At the very least, any of them would be better than Juan Castro. Of course, Eric Bruntlett is probably available wherever he is these days :-)— SteveS11
- I said it before, and I'll say it again. You cannot play at the level this team has played at for three years straight. At some point injuries catch up with you and other teams improve (i.e. The Braves). So we'll see you next season, new and improved.— ttmanage
- Money controls Phillies Management. Cheap bench, they short the bullpen. Results are injuries can wreck a team without a strong bench.— tulsaphil
Can Michael Vick swing a bat?- Mickey Morandini— cwodack
- Mickey Morandini— cwodack
- Steve Jeltz is a perfect fit. I am sure his arm is a little tired so he can make the move from short to 2nd and he is deadly against the Pirates.— TBagger28
Get Mickey Morandini on the horn!— burholme- Bringing up Bocock rather than Ransom must be a money move.— chuckw
- i think grudzelanek is a consumate professional and would fit right in and do a decent job with very little risk and not much reward,...just a decent fill in job which at this point is all we need— SyddBarrett
- Stick with Valdez and Castro. They'll weather this, it's still early— andwhysee
- Grudzielanek is a perfect fit! Great guy, good glove, solid bat. Why wait?— aisaacman
Atkins can't be worse than Dobbs as a fielder or hitter, plus the Phils would only have to pay him the league minimum. He's still only 30, and maybe we'll catch lightning in a bottle and Atkins will revive his career back in the NL playing for a contender. He has the most upside and won't cost much in return.— the dad
