Amaro on Taylor; Plus Martinez, Lopez and Condrey updates
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Amaro on Taylor; Plus Martinez, Lopez and Condrey updates
Daily News Staff
The Phillies' rationale for promotion Michael Taylor to Triple-A today was simple.
"He was ready," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said today.
One look at the numbers Taylor posted at Double-A Reading supports that observation. In 86 games, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound outfielder hit .333 with a .408 on base percentage, a .569 slugging percentage, and a .977 OPS. He hit 15 home runs in 318 at-bats, stole 18 bases, scored 59 runs, drove in 65, and struck out 51 times.
The Stanford University product turns 24 in December.
The promotion to Triple-A comes two weeks before the July 31 trading deadline. Amaro said today that Taylor is very much on the radar of potential trade partners with whom the Phillies have talked, although he declined to say whether Taylor was on the list of "untouchables" whom he told the media he would not trade last week.
"He's pretty popular," Amaro said. "There's no doubt about that."
With both of the Phillies corner outfielder signed through 2010, Taylor likely would not get a chance to break into the Phillies line-up until at least 2011, when he would be 26 years old. That makes him an ideal bargaining chip in a potential trade. The Phillies have maintained contact with the Blue Jays with regards to the availability of ace righthander Roy Halladay. But they are not limiting their options to a top-of-the-rotation starter. The Phillies said last year that they made an aggressive play for eventual Brewers lefty C.C. Sabathia. Instead, they settled for Joe Blanton, who played an important role in their World Series run.
Amaro did not rule out the potential of a big league promotion for Taylor at some point in the second half, although a lot depends on how he adjusts to Triple-A pitching. While he faced prospects with more upside in Double-A, in Lehigh Valley he will be squaring off against many pitchers who have big league experience and know how to exploit the holes in a young player's game.
"A lot of it depends on how he makes the adjustment," Amaro said. "We'll see how he adjusts."
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More pre-game notes:
1) Pedro Martinez expects to throw a side session Saturday in Miami, then report to Clearwater on Monday. The Phillies do not have a definite schedule for his rehab assignments.
2) Clay Condrey should be activated from the disabled list in the near future. Condrey (oblique) has made three rehab appearances, most recently last night in Clearwater.
"I feel like I'm ready to go," Condrey said, "but I haven't talked to anybody (about returning to the roster)."
3) Rodrigo Lopez will throw a bullpen session on Saturday and is expected to be on the mound when the Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park Monday.
If he hits and does well, he is a no trade and a replacement for John May. by the end of Aug.— KGKoons- Displaying him against better pitchers for Toronto's benefit?— Nutburgers
- Can't wait for the article "Taylor promoted from AAA to the Phils"— BillF1sher
- The Jays requested this move so they can decide between Taylor and Brown. I have no evidence to back that up.— B in DC
- Why wouldn't they put Brown and Taylor on the same level if the Jays wanted to decide between them?— Nutburgers
- Long overdue, hopefully it has something to do with the Blue Jays.— ktdb05
- you don't put brown in AAA cause he isn't ready. but they believe he might have more upside than taylor. if taylor can be just as good at AAA than at AA then the Jays know that taylor is legit and to go for him.
- It had nothing to do with Blue Jays decided. I think Toronto has money concerns. It won't take trading Taylor to get Hollady. Taylor got to play in the Eastarn League All-Star game at AA and now they'll move him up. Unless they trade an outfielder, he starts next season at Lehigh.— 76er
- The Jays don't need outfielders. They need a SS-3B - Donald and they want pitching, Happ, Carassco and Knapp.— 76er
- media stunt to raise his stock for the doc hall deal! pat gillick is workin it baby!— drumminge6
- "Why wouldn't they put Brown and Taylor on the same level if the Jays wanted to decide between them?" Because Taylor's 23 and Dom Brown is 19 or 20...they are at different points in their development. Brown has more upside (especially in the power department), Taylor is a more advanced prospect at this point. And I seriously doubt they're trying to showcase Taylor for a Halladay trade with this move...He just had nothing left to prove in AA. Why not challenge him and see what he can do?— ChrisInVT
- took long enough.— theanswer80
I'm convinced that wherever Halladay is going, it's not to the Phillies. Dave made the point on TV last week that the Phillies' top prospects are not considered comparable - either on the field or as trade bait - to those of the Red Sox and Yankees by anyone other than the Phillies themselves (who have a long history of overvaluing their prospects). Could it just be as simple as this: he's proven himself against AA pitching, and now they want to see how he does against AAA pitching in order to see whether or not they can use him as that much-needed right-handed bat off the bench in September and beyond?— 1980- this sucks im going to the reading phillies tonight and now i cant watch him play. why couldnt they wait one more day?— ConservativePatriot22
- Great job Murph .. sure it is a very short article but I am so pleased that after too many long-winded articles you are writing the essentials lately. I love it. Of course I hope you are not just slacking off...— sportsdead
