Amaro: Phillies probably done making moves
The reality increases daily of a Phillies outfield hodgepodge formed by Ben Revere, Domonic Brown, John Mayberry Jr., Darin Ruf and Laynce Nix. The man tasked with forming the 2013 roster was willing to admit as much Monday.
Amaro: Phillies probably done making moves
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The reality increases daily of a Phillies outfield hodgepodge formed by Ben Revere, Domonic Brown, John Mayberry Jr., Darin Ruf and Laynce Nix. The man tasked with forming the 2013 roster was willing to admit as much Monday.
"We're likely going with what we've got," Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
Spring training begins Feb. 12 in Clearwater, Fla., and the Phillies will arrive with hopes pinned to an aging, expensive core. Youth is the choice in the outfield, for better or worse.
"There's some risk in going with a possible double platoon or letting the guys we have battle it out for playing time," Amaro said. "There are some advantages to that, as well. The best-man-wins type of scenario can be created and likely will be created in spring training. At the same time, a lot of these guys are not proven everyday major-league players. But that doesn't mean they cannot become them."
The GM did not eliminate the possibility of a veteran addition for the outfield, but admitted within his current constraints (both monetary and player-wise), there is not much more than a marginal upgrade available. He categorized his current pursuit as "looking around for some low-risk, high-reward type of players."
There is money to spend, if the Phillies maintain a similar payroll to 2012. The Phillies are an estimated $7 million shy of the $178 million luxury tax threshold. Amaro said he has "a little bit" to spend. He would not say if he has extended any formal offers to current free agents.
The Phillies have 39 players on their 40-man roster.
What Amaro and his lieutenants may have decided is those resources are best utilized later. The reported options in free agency and trades -- Scott Hairston, Vernon Wells, Alfonso Soriano -- are flawed. There could be a better fit come July. Should the Phillies enter 2013 with wiggle room, they could be well-positioned for the splash everyone expected this winter.
"If there is a player that is better who we feel could help us now, we'll utilize our resources to get him," Amaro said. "If there isn't, then we may be better served to hold on a see what we could do during the year."
Chances are the Phillies start 2013 with an unproven outfield. If anything, it should make for a fascinating spring training.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
- at this point, copper, the phillies do not have the minor league depth to be making trades and there is nothing great out there in free agency.
patience is needed for a spending opportunity that comes up.— the lopez! - Always gotta take what RAJ says with a grain of salt. But if this is it, this team is headed for a sub-.500 season. The best man in this outfield after Revere isn't a very good MLB player.— PhillySubsMac
- And some people will still say this team has a shot at the World Series. Third place AT BEST in the division.— dundermifflin
- This comment has been deleted.— rombola67
- I was a huge fan of Rube up until the past 2 offseasons which have just been horrifying. I cant believe this team finished 18 games behind Washington and they try to sell us Revere, Lannan etc etc.
With the new TV deal coming up and the 3500% rise in team equity it just blows me away that we have an outfield with 15 career HRs and KK and Lannan in the 4-5 holes.
If Halladay is the same 2012 Halladay this season is over before July 4th.— argonne - Prof: wise words and smart considering most on here have complained that Amaro ruined the team by trading prospects and then bashing him for giving other prospects a chance/trading for a younger player. If it means another .500 year until they can get some strong play from the young guys, then so be it. Another over 30 something 5 year signing would have been a mistake, especially given the amount of money OF players were being given this offseason.— frstrm
- Should finish ahead of the Marlins.— 4thand10
- Good choice Ruben! Everything out there is old and quite frankly not that good. None have played for championship teams. Who knows maybe some of these young players prout their wings this year and produce on a consistent basis. July will give us a better idea of the real needs of this team to compete, if competing is even possible at that point.— miket47
- Lest we forget the Phillies corner outfield positions in '93 were both double platoons as well, with Milt Thompson, Jim Eisenreich, Wes Chamberlain, and Pete Incaviglia, a group that impressed no one prior to that season, yet paid off in spades.— Dante1138
- Good point, Dante re: successful platooning. But, do these Phillies remind anyone of the '93 squad? Is the "chemistry" there? Who are the leaders? Who is this team's Dutch Daulton? That '93 team worked the opposing pitcher. They took pitches, took walks, and generally kept the pressure on. With JStroll leading off, that team would not have been as successful. And, what happened with those platoons in '94, '95, '96, etc?? — Copper34
- This is not what Doc and Lee were envisioning when they chose Philly ... Question marks abound!! Hamilton and/or Swisher would have been nice - but the GM already mortgaged the farm for Pence and Oswalt ... It's a shame ... If the stars align and the Phillies are in the hunt come trade deadline, Rube-the-Boob can try to trade Biddle and any other prospects for a guy he could have signed this off-season (or last). I'm sure that's his "plan."— Copper34
- So many if's this season. Need a lot to go right to make the playoffs. They should be able to with their pitching staff though. Maybe just barely which is concerning.— frankieb42
- good move not to spend money on a big name. Hairston is only good against the Phillies and Soriano is a overpaid headache. Let's see what we got in spring training. Besides, there is nothing left in the cupboards.— palmyra21
- I am not displeased based on what is out there. Even those top of the menu free agents all came with warts. Hamilton? One slip away from total doom. Upton? Do we really need another Shane Victorino swinging for the fences? Which leads us to Victorino...Mr pop-up himself. He was an asset when he was a tad faster and had Utley and Howard bashing balls behind him in the order. But at $13,000,000? Pu-lease! And Bourne? He is no better than Ben Revere and 4 years older and ready to cross that invisible line between superspeed and above average speed which takes his play down to less than ordinary and he is asking Upton money. You see how fast others are rushing to pick him up. And Soriano and Wells? Gimme a break. They were over the hill two hills ago and they are both liabilities in the clubhouse. The Phillies have nothing to lose by giving what they have first dibs. I just have a very good feeling about Ruf. I think he is a young Bull Luzinski. That would mean 3 others for one opening and among them, they should hit enough to make them a decent #7 or #8 hitter. I think the top of the order should be Revere and Young with Rollins dropping to 6th where his power and RBI production will be his forte rather than his not getting on base that much as a leadoff hitter. For #5 and #7 you have Ruf and Chooch.— gotedge
- Oh ye of little faith! When Ruben Amaro spends money on second rate players (one year ago), you attack, when he doesn't (which I applaud him for here), you attack.— dwp66
