A trade could be near
ST. LOUIS — Ruben Amaro Jr. wore one of those patented smug looks on his face. The Phillies general manager had just demoted his fifth starter without listing a replacement in the rotation for him.
A trade could be near
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS — Ruben Amaro Jr. wore one of those patented smug looks on his face. The Phillies general manager had just demoted his fifth starter without listing a replacement in the rotation for him.
“I think we know exactly what we're going to do,” Amaro said. “I just choose not to tell you.”
Well then.
The Phillies sent righthander Kyle Kendrick to triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, a day after he allowed seven runs in five innings to the Cardinals. In his place, righthander Andrew Carpenter was recalled. Carpenter, normally a starter, will serve as an extra arm in the bullpen.
Amaro said Kendrick’s spot could be filled by someone from within the organization, like J.A. Happ. But Happ started for Lehigh Valley on Tuesday and it would be hard seeing him make his return to the majors on short rest Saturday. Amaro said no one other than Carpenter, Happ or Nelson Figueroa, who was recently designated for assignment and has yet to pass through waivers, is considered an internal candidate.
That means a trade could be imminent. Amaro did nothing to dissuade that notion, saying Saturday’s starter could come from outside the organization.
“We have other balls in the air,” Amaro said.
Those, presumably, are the names bandied about in the rumor mills over the last month. The Phillies have reportedly scouted Oakland pitcher Ben Sheets with two different scouts in the last month. Sheets pitched Tuesday for the A’s and would be in line to start Saturday.
Houston’s Roy Oswalt and Arizona’s Dan Haren are at the top of the list of available pitchers, but both could cost top prospect Domonic Brown, a deal the Phillies would not complete. They made sure to not include Brown in the Roy Halladay trade during the off-season.
Baltimore’s Jeremy Guthrie, Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook along with Chicago’s Ted Lilly are other pitchers reportedly on the market.
Whomever the Phillies have in mind, Amaro appears to be confident in something happening — even if he won’t let on. When asked if he is optimistic a deal could be completed
“Not necessarily,” Amaro said. “But I like to think we can do something to improve the club.”
Read Wednesday's Inquirer for more...
Typical smug arrogant King Ruben. Unless you get Lee back Rube any trade will be useless. Way to kill our team Rube.— Bob65S- Stop with the Lee!!! Hes gone, get over it. People are so obsessed. Oswalt or Haren would be just as good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— peteymoney
RAJ went from hero to zero faster than anyone in the history of Philadelphia. The first Cliff Lee trade was brilliant while the second was punching the fans in the gut. I don't blame you RAJ. You were just taking the fall for the owners. The ingrates around here zero ability to comprehend.- Would be nice to give Blanton back to Oakland for Sheets, but A's wouldn't do it.— P Even
- the bullpen signings for example haven't been inspired. so one good deal (lee) isn't going to negate all the bad signings. sorry.— liberty_bell
- You're and idiot Bob— jaydes
- Baez nad Contreras are also Rube's legacy. So if we give up our only proven right bat Werth and bring up Brown another lefty who has never faced Major leugue pitching how does that help us???? How does that help us arrogant Ruben? Know it all Ruben?— Bob65S
- Mr Montgomery who hides and never shows his face when things go to s--t is also to blame!— Bob65S
- Hey, we all know that the ownership tied Ruben's hands. They made him choose between Lee or Halladay. Of course Amaro would have liked to have them both! Just do a sign and trade with Werth + other prospects other than Brown to get a bona fide starter.— ol duke
- Hey ol duke- this is NOT THE NBA - one does not do a Sign and Trade with Werth, you just trade him— davi
- I wish the Phils still had Lee too, but when does it get old? He's NOT coming back...let it go!— erbower
This team seems to need more than just one starter. They need at least 2 starters and some infield help. Valdez is a .220 hitter and boy do they miss Chase. The bench stinks too.- To the geniuses who want Ben Sheets: 4.53 ERA this year. Oh, you think Dan Haren is better? 4.60 ERA. Roy Oswalt (3.12 era) is who you want, as long as he stays healthy (bruised ankle - always seems hurt) and we don't have to give up much (unless Wade takes lower-level talent, forget it). Enjoy a long season, fellas.— PhilCali
- If they trade for a starting pitcher it will admit a couple things: 1) trading Lee was a mistake @) by extension, signing Moyer for two years (basically at Lee's salary for this year) was a mistake. Blanton may still turn it around, he's been a decent pitcher most of this time here (Moyer may be out of gas but you never know). Baez is a definitive bust. there's another pitcher no one talks about that met most of rube's criteria but they didn't sign...Brett Myers. He's got a 3.3 ERA— dreinterests
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