MUST BE DREAMING: TEMPLE IS 9-2?
Tomorrow is an important day in baseball.
Teams must decide whether or not to offer salary arbitration to their remaining free agents. The Phillies have four free agents - Jamie Moyer, Pat Burrell, Tom Gordon and Rudy Seanez -- but two are worth watching.
The Phillies are likely to offer Moyer arbitration. They have had serious discussions with him about a contract extension, and because they want Moyer back, there is little to no risk in offering him arbitration. If Moyer accepted arbitration by next Sunday's deadline, he would be a signed player for 2009. The Phillies would be fine if Moyer accepted because it would mean he has accepted a one-year contract, and I'm pretty sure the Phillies would be fine if Moyer, 46, took a one-year deal. Plus, if negotiations broke down and he signed elsewhere, the Phils would receive two draft picks as compensation because Moyer is a Type A free agent.
It is less likely that the Phillies offer Burrell arbitration, especially if they are confident they can find a better alternative in left field (they already have expressed interest in free agents Raul Ibanez and Rocco Baldelli), but it could happen. The risk in offering arbitration to Burrell is that if he accepted, he would be signed for 2009 and likely would receive a raise from the $14 million he made this year. The Phils might not want to commit that much to Burrell, even for one season, because it could prevent them from pursuing other free agents. By not offering Burrell arbitration, the Phillies can continue to talk to Ibanez, Baldelli, and other teams about potential trades without the risk of him accepting. And it's important to note that even if the Phillies don't offer Burrell arbitration it doesn't mean they can't continue to talk with him and eventually re-sign him. They can.
You might start seeing a little more movement on the free agent market after tomorrow because teams like to see what other teams do with their Type A free agents. If teams sign a Type A free agent before Dec. 1, they automatically forfeit a top draft pick. But by waiting to see what happens at the Dec. 1 deadline, teams can sign a Type A free agent knowing whether or not they have been offered arbitration. It can make a big difference in a team's interest in a player. For example, the Phillies are unlikely to pursue relief pitcher Doug Brocail if he is offered arbitration because they aren't going to forfeit their first-round draft pick to sign a middle reliever.
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In other news:
The Phillies remain hopeful that Moyer will be back, but they have talked with the agents for free-agent righthanders Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett. Burnett has a good relationship with Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, who coached him in Florida, and he lives in Monkton, Md. ... The Phils are looking for a utility infielder and have had discussions with Nick Punto, who played for them from 2001 to 2003. They also have some interest in free-agent reliever Juan Cruz and could be interested in David Weathers. ... Another date to remember is Dec. 12. That is the last day for teams to tender contracts to unsigned players. The market could be flooded with interesting names at that point. In recent seasons, the Phils have signed non-tendered players such as Jayson Werth and Chad Durbin. The only significant moves the Phillies have made so far are re-signing Scott Eyre and trading Greg Golson to the Texas Rangers for John Mayberry. But the Dec. 1 and Dec. 12 deadlines typically make things a lot clearer for teams. Things should start picking up soon.
Came across a few things as I was cleaning out the inbox:
Dick Allen has a spot on the Veterans Committee ballot this fall at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Hall of Fame writes, "Allen ... was known as one of the sport’s top right-handed power hitters of the 1960s and early 1970s. Allen played for the Philadelphia Phillies (1963-69, 1975-76), St. Louis Cardinals (1970), Los Angeles Dodgers (1971), Chicago White Sox (1972-74), and Oakland Athletics (1977). In 15 big league seasons, Allen clubbed 320 doubles, 79 triples and 351 home runs in 1,749 games. A third baseman and then a first baseman, Allen drove in 1,119 and scored 1,099 runs.
"In 1964, Allen was named NL Rookie of the Year with the Phillies after hitting .318 with 29 home runs, 91 RBIs and 201 hits.
"Allen earned 1972 MVP honors with the White Sox after leading the American League in home runs (37), RBIs (113), slugging percentage (.603) and walks (99). His .534 career slugging average was among the highest in an era marked by low averages. A seven time All-Star, Allen was a three-time league leader in slugging percentage and extra-base hits and twice in on-base percentage. He finished in the top five in slugging seven times and extra-base hits six times.
"Allen will be considered for the Class of 2009 at the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee as part of the post-1942 ballot (players who began their big league careers in 1943 or after). Other members of the post-1942 Veterans Committee final ballot are Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre and Maury Wills. Any player receiving at least 75 percent of the vote from the Veterans Committee, which consists of the 64 living Hall of Famers, will be enshrined at the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2009.
"Results from the Veterans Committee vote will be announced Dec. 8 at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Las Vegas."
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Check out this video blog from the parade last month.
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I forgot to link this a while back, but On the DL has a great podcast about the Phillies' championship run. ... Whiz Witout talks to yours truly.
The Phillies have reached an agreement on a minor-league contract with Philadelphia native and free agent righthander Mike Koplove, a team source said.
Like most big-league teams, the Phillies aren't expected to announce Koplove or their other minor-league free agent signings until after the Rule 5 Draft next month in Las Vegas. Koplove, 32, hasn't pitched regularly in the majors since 2005 with Arizona. He will not be on the 40-man roster, which means he is a non-roster invitee to spring training. And that means he will have a chance to compete for a job in the Phillies' bullpen, although he is more likely to open the season in triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phillies already have Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin and Scott Eyre in their bullpen. Clay Condrey, who is eligible for salary arbitration, also could be back. And the Phillies could end up signing a free agent reliever like Juan Cruz or David Weathers. Depending on what happens in the coming weeks with Condrey, Cruz, Weathers, etc., it could leave Koplove with as many as two available bullpen jobs or as few as zero.
The Phillies have said for almost a month their No. 1 priority is signing Jamie Moyer to a contract extension.
They still hope to get that done.
But it looks like the Phillies don't want to get caught flat footed if talks with Moyer drag on and they suddenly realize they can't come to an agreement. A source said yesterday that the Phillies recently have contacted Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett about contracts.
Lowe, 35, went 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reports are that Lowe is seeking a five-year contract worth around $15 million per season. Burnett, 31, who went 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA with the Toronto Blue Jays, also is believed to be seeking at least a five-year contract.
The Phillies don't like to give five- or six-year contracts to pitchers because of the health risk involved. They're not alone, either. The Yankees, for example, reportedly have balked at talking seriously with Burnett while he asks for a five-year contract. But the Phillies will have to do something if Moyer doesn't sign, and if they think they can get Lowe or Burnett they have to at least try. And in case you're wondering, there's almost no chance the Phillies would sign both Moyer and Burnett or Lowe. I think it's one or the other (Moyer or Lowe/Burnett), and I still think they prefer to sign Moyer. The Phillies have said in the past if they sign Moyer, they will have Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ, Carlos Carrasco and Drew Carpenter (throw Adam Eaton's name in there, too) compete for the fifth spot in the rotation.
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Ruben Amaro Jr. said Chase Utley's surgery went very well: "I'm pleased there were no surprises. We're optimistic that he'll be back and shouldn't miss a significant portion of the season. I would be surprised if he did not return until June. That would be very surprising, although a lot will depend on how he reacts to the surgery and how the overall rehab goes."
Amaro also said he expects Pedro Feliz back by spring training. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I asked him if this is going to be a David Bell-type thing, where Feliz constantly will have lower back issues. Amaro said, "We don't see any degenerative issues with his back." That's good news for the Phillies.
The Phillies announced today that second baseman Chase Utley had surgery on his right hip yesterday. The surgery was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Utley had an arthroscopic debridement of his labrum and a bony lesion that was present. Kelly reported the surgery went well and the findings yesterday were consistent with the diagnostic studies performed prior to surgery. It is anticipated that he will have a four to six month recovery period as previously described.
Third baseman Pedro Feliz had a lumbar discectomy performed on November 20 by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles and the procedure went well. The discectomy was performed on the L4-5 disc and Feliz will return home to complete his rehabilitation program, which is expected to require eight to 12 weeks.
In other words, the recovery times for Utley and Feliz have not changed.
Should Feliz require 12 weeks to recover, he would be ready in late February.
Should Utley require six months to recover, he woudl be ready in late May. But the Phillies said last week they think Utley can be ready earlier than that.
Major League Baseball premiered its 2008 World Series DVD last night at The Bridge Cinema De Lux in Philadelphia.
The DVD goes on sale today.
But before the premiere, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Chase Utley had successful surgery on his right hip today at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The Phillies are expected to have more details tomorrow.
“What I can tell you is that our early reports are that it was a very successful surgery,” Amaro said.
So that's good news?
“Whenever you have surgery I don’t know it’s good news, but favorable I think would be a better word,” he said.
Utley’s recovery time has been estimated anywhere between four to six months.
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Amaro said he had nothing to report on contract negotiations with free agent lefthander Jamie Moyer. It is believed the sides are close, however, and a deal eventually will be struck.
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There is interest in the contract status of players Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels, despite the fact Howard can’t become a free agent until after the 2011 season and Hamels can’t become a free agent after the 2012 season. The Phillies feel no pressure to strike extensions with them at this time. Instead they could be focused on players who will become free agents after the 2009 season, like Ryan Madson and Jayson Werth.
“We have talked a little bit,” Madson said at the premiere. “No numbers, just, ‘Hey, we’re interested in signing you to a multi-year … something longer than a one-year deal. I’m all ears. I love the city. My wife loves the city. We want to. It just has to be the right deal for me because just around the corner is free agency and that’s what every player wants to get to.”
“Obviously he’s a valuable piece to our club and it’s certainly something we’re considering,” Amaro said.
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One amusing moment from the red carpet. One Phillies fan yelled a few times at Amaro to go out and get Matt Holliday.
Uh, dude, Holliday has been traded. It's been on the Internet and everything.
So yesterday I said I was glad it was Sunday because people finally would stop talking about how Donovan McNabb didn't know the overtime rules.
Seems like an eternity ago, doesn't it?
So things aren't going real well right now for the Eagles. Thankfully, there is YouTube to take us back to a better time and a better place. Comcast SportsNet also is replaying six memorable games in the Phillies' run to the World Series championship:
I'm glad today is Sunday.
The Eagles play today, which hopefully means we can stop talking about how Donovan McNabb didn't know the overtime rules. Things remain generally quiet on the Phillies' front. They're still working on a deal with Jamie Moyer. I believe a deal will happen at some point. It's just a matter of when. In other news, the premiere for Major League Baseball's “2008 World Series Film: Phillies vs Rays” is tomorrow night at The Bridge Cinema De Lux in Philadelphia.
I got an advanced copy of the DVD and let me say it is very, very impressive. I would say this is one thing fans will want to have.
The DVD goes on sale Tuesday.
You can go to a screening -- not necessarily the red carpet screening - by getting tickets at worldseries.com. The other screenings, which also are tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m., are at Bala Theatre 3 in Bala Cynwyd, Montgomeryville 10 in Landsdale, Showcase at the Ritz Center 16 in Vorhees and Anthony Wayne Theatre 5 in Wayne.
Oh, found this at The 700 Level. Somebody put together a video of every home run the Phillies hit in the postseason. I, too, would like somebody to put together a video with just the calls from Scott Franzke and Harry Kalas and no music, etc. Anybody game?
I've had a few hours to digest everything that happened yesterday.
Let's review:
Other than that, a pretty quiet day.
But what does it all mean? In terms of how it changes Ruben Amaro Jr.'s off-season plans, not much. The Phillies' top priority remains re-signing Jamie Moyer, which I believe will happen. Their other priorities include finding a solution in left field (Rocco Baldelli, Raul Ibanez and Pat Burrell remain possibilities) and adding another reliever to their bullpen (they have interest in righthander Juan Cruz). But Amaro made it pretty clear yesterday they are optimistic any time Utley misses will be minimal. So don't expect the Phillies to call up free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson's agent today. The Phillies are going to go with short-term solutions to their second base problem.
Eric Bruntlett filled in for shortstop Jimmy Rollins early this season when Rollins spent time on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle. He could do the same at second base. Jason Donald, one of the organization’s top prospects, is hitting .407 in the Arizona Fall League and also could see time there. The Phillies had kicked around the idea of adding a utility infielder before they scheduled Utley for surgery. Free agents like Nick Punto, who played for the Phillies from 2001-03, and Damion Easley could make sense.
“I think we have coverage with Bruntlett and with the emergence of Donald,” Amaro said. “That does not mean that we won’t look to add, but I think if were to open the season today without Chase … we’re covered fairly well.
"You don’t necessarily replace an Utley, but at the same time we really feel … he’s going to be fairly close to ready, if not ready, by opening day. A lot of it depends on how the rehab goes, how the surgery goes. This is not an exact science. But we fully expect to have Chase Utley with us for the bulk of the season, so I’d have to say frankly as far as how we go about our business with our club, it probably won’t change significantly.”
Same goes for Feliz. The Phillies expect him back before Utley, so they think third base is even less of an issue than second base. Plus, if something with Feliz lingers, they have Greg Dobbs, Bruntlett and Donald to help out.
Mayberry is not the team's 2009 solution for left field. The Phillies acquired him because they have very little power in their minor-league system, and his power eventually could play big at cozy Citizens Bank Park -- if not in 2009, then in the future. But why trade Golson? Wasn't he an everyday outfielder of the future? Not necessarily. I had heard rumblings during the season that the Phillies projected Golson to be a fourth or fifth outfielder. Golson, the Phillies’ first round pick in 2004, hit .282 with 13 homers, 60 RBIs and 23 stolen based for double-A Reading, but also struck out an alarming 130 times. Maybe because the Phillies have Shane Victorino signed through 2011, they feel they could use a righthanded power bat more than a speed/defense guy.
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Expect the Phillies to announce today the final coach for Charlie Manuel's staff. The Phillies had interviewed Rich Donnelly, Tim Bogar and Pete Mackanin.
Update (11:42 a.m.): The Phillies announced that Mackanin will be Manuel's new bench coach. That means Sam Perlozzo is the team's new third base coach.
Sorry for the delay ...
The Phillies traded outfielder Greg Golson to the Texas Rangers for outfielder John Mayberry.
Relax, Mayberry is not the team's solution for left field.
Mayberry, 24, split 2008 between double-A Frisco and triple-A Oklahoma. He hit a combined .264 with 38 doubles, 20 home runs, 71 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 135 games. He began the season with Frisco before being promoted to Oklahoma in late April. Mayberry, who hits righthanded, hit three homers in the postseason for Oklahoma. He also hit .351 with nine homers and 23 RBI against left-handed pitching during the regular season.
Mayberry was Texas' first-round pick in 2005.
Golson, 23, was the Phillies’ first round selection in 2004. He played for double-A Reading in 2008 and hit .282 with 13 home runs, 60 RBI and 23 stolen bases. Golson was hitless in six September at-bats with the Phillies. He made his first major league start (center field) on September 28 against the Washington Nationals, the Phillies’ final regular-season game.
Mayberry was assigned to triple-A Lehigh Valley and had his contract purchased by the Phillies, adding him to the 40-man roster.
Why trade Golson? Why Mayberry? The Phillies no longer projected Golson to be an everyday outfielder and I think they felt he was expendable. Mayberry gives the organization something they currently don't have, a corner outfielder with some power.
