Trade of Hunter Pence raises questions about 2013
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Trade of Hunter Pence raises questions about 2013
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
By all accounts, Tommy Joseph is a solid major league prospect. Whether he was solid enough to warrant the trade of Hunter Pence is debatable. What isn't debatable is that the Phillies are not better off for the 2013 season, at least not in terms of talent in right field.
Joseph, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Hunter Pence and cash to the Giants this afternoon, would not appear to factor into the big league picture for next season. Carlos Ruiz will be back, leaving no room at catcher. Besides, Joseph just turned 21 years old. He has power potential, but in his first year at Double-A he has eight home runs with a .260/.313/.391 line in 335 plate appearances. Seth Rosin, a 23-year-old who is currently at Class A, does not project onto the major league roster in 2013, either. Which reduces this deal, from the vantage point of 2013, to Hunter Pence for Nate Schierholtz and some payroll flexibility. Schierholtz is a better defender with an excellent arm, but the Phillies lose about 30 points in on base percentage and plenty of home run power, not to mention the only right-handed power bat in their lineup.
Over the last two seasons, Schierholtz has posted a .271/.326/.429 line with 14 home runs in 558 plate appearances. By comparison, Jimmy Rollins hit .268/.338/.399 with 16 home runs in 631 plate appearances last season.
Pence, on the other hand, hit .289/.357/.486 with 28 home runs in 676 plate appearances during his year in Philadelphia. So in right field, the Phillies take a step back for 2013. Domonic Brown, who was called up today, is not a relevant consideration, since he could have moved into left field even if Pence had remained with the team.
The relevant factor is payroll flexibility. The Phillies likely would have had to pay Pence between $14 million and $15 million next season. Now, they can theoretically spend that money at one of their two obvious vacancies: center field and third base. The third base market is not pretty -- Kevin Youkilis and Mark Reynolds are the top two options available. Center field offers Michael Bourn, Melky Cabrera, and Shane Victorino.
But strictly in terms of talent, the Phillies do not figure to be as good in right field in 2013 as they would have been had they held onto Pence.
Pence's fielding was... interesting this year, and his bat was blah. I think you underestimate what they can do this off-season. It's not just about the free agents. But whatever - alarmist reporting sells papers or pixels or something.— Stuie- You can count on your hand how many times he helped the team. He hurt the team one way or another way too many times to endear him to the fans. Bye Bye Ichabod, don't trip on your own feet on the way out...— Trot
- How much more talent do we need to come in last place?— ghostofozark
- Ghost o Qzark great name. Danny said after the Phils were mathematically eliminated, " IF WE STILL WIN ALL OF OURS AND THEY LOOSE ALL OF THEIRS WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE." and " Even Napolean had his Watergate.". And people think Charlie is tough to listen to. The more things change the more they stay the same.
— DUDESKINS - Don't forget: "Half this game is 90% mental." There's a trip down memory lane. Ozark's teams lost three NLCS in a row. At least they got there three years in a row, but talk about suffering fans ... Then two years later, new manager and they finally get the ring. Change can be good. — s
Comment removed.- Because RAJ got no one back to help the club next year. I agree that reducing payroll will help with tax issues, but last time I checked it really helps to have major league talent at 3rd base and the outfield positions. At this point in time, the Phillies do not have that. — scootch
- Because if it cost 15 million to keep a player like Pence who is under control, how much does it cost to sign a free agent that is considered a better hitter? If Victorino is going to get signed to a 5 year deal like he thinks(I think he is dreaming) who is out there that is cheaper and better? — UncleStosh
- Good point. If we give away any more 'talent' we may find ourselves in last place. — smfree31
- Pence has been made a scapegoat. Furthermore, we gave him away, after giving up too much for him last year. Aside from saving payroll, this makes no sense. If we needed a scapegoat, it should have been Charlie Manuel. He's worn out his welcome; it's Sandberg time!— Cornwall Citizen
- The Astros who have no Major League talent on their roster at all, NONE, have not one of the guys that were traded to them . The only Phillie on their roster is Ben Francisco who they got from Toronto for of all people, J.A. Happ. The Phils got a super catching prospect and Nate Scheroltz who many say is a possible GG fielder with some pop at parks other than at home at S.F. So wait and see . At least the DOM DOM guys will shut up for a while and a big message got sent to all that no one is to big to fail. All in All a good day IMO. — DUDESKINS
- Can we turn around and deal Tommy Joseph in the off-season for a major-league ready position player?— everydayguy
- We have to see if other trades are made in the offseason. I agree that the Pence deal, overall, was an obvious loss but I also don't see the logic of paying him 14-15 million. That's just another year rental unless you want to lock him up for even more in 2014. His fielding was pretty bad and his approach at the plate is horrible even though he manages to get offensive results. Just not worth the money he's going to demand in my opinion. There is the question of who's in the 2013 outfield but I don't think it necessarily has to come down just to free agents. With Lee's name already floated as trade bait and with two months left to play there may be other pieces we can move over the winter. 3B is the real dilemma to me. Without a trade we almost might as well resign Polanco. That's how bad the 3B FA market is.— s
- I liked Pence, but his goofy attitude doesn't work when you're losing. Phillies (including Victorino) seemed way too tolerant of sucking this year. Not sure on whose shoulders that falls, but it's definitely not a good thing.— raoool
- They'll still have the Stroller, Murph, you remember him, the shortstop who is "too good to trade".— wo_fat
