Posted: Friday, July 29, 2011, 11:18 PM | 32 comments |
 

Amaro says Phillies likely done dealing
options
 
He's a happy man. (Sarah J. Glover/Staff file photo)

What, you want more?

Ruben Amaro Jr. will keep listening as the trade market matures to its deadline Sunday at 4 p.m. but the Phillies general manager is likely done dealing after acquiring Hunter Pence.

"We'll keep our minds open," Amaro said. "But right now I'm very comfortable with our ballclub."

A possible spot that could still be upgraded for cheap is the bullpen, but Amaro issued a vote of confidence for his current unit.

"I like the way Brad Lidge has come back and thrown the way he's thrown," Amaro said. "We're cautiously optimistic about [Jose] Contreras. And the kids have been great in the bullpen."

The Phillies will probably have two roster moves to make before Saturday's game -- one for Pence and another for Placido Polanco, who is expected to be activated from the disabled list.

Domonic Brown could be sent to the minors despite comparable numbers to Raul Ibanez. If Brown's new future position in this organization is left field, the team likely wants him to begin the crash course there as soon as possible.

Brown seemed resigned to his fate Friday night.

"I just hope I’m here and not in triple A," Brown said. "If that was to happen, I will go out and play."

Wilson Valdez's time with the Phillies could also be over (temporarily). Valdez has no options remaining and must clear waivers to be sent to the minors. But that shouldn't be a problem. If he clears, he'd come back in September once rosters expand.

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Posted by Matt Gelb @ 11:18 PM  Permalink | 32 comments
32
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:25 PM, 07/29/2011
    Don't bet on it,we heard that before. here comes Heath Bell.
    — littleman163
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:31 PM, 07/29/2011
    Being sent down could be the best thing to ever happen to Brown. He's got a spot next year with Raul moving out, so it's not like he's lost his chance, and he could use the time down there to gain some much needed confidence.

    This time he knows exactly what's expected of him in the majors, and the challenges he'll face. He'll be able to gear his minor league time to exactly that, and be back up for a september call up.

    I just wish he saw it as an opportunity. I can understand disapointment, but if he lets get in the way, it could really interfere with all of that.
    — MFPhils
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:40 PM, 07/29/2011
    Carpenter will go to Pigs...along with Brown
    — Clee Liff
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:47 PM, 07/29/2011
    Would be nice to get Mike Adams, but that would probably truly decimate the farm...if Contreras comes back healthy, they will be sitting pretty anyway...
    — Clee Liff
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:48 PM, 07/29/2011
    Well, at least Brown isn't gone for good. I personally think they should drop Gload, and keep Brown in the show for the rest of the year. He's grown with his time with the team, his eye is better than most on the team, his avg. is growing, and facing AAA isn't truly going to help him keep maturing. Hope Pence does the job, he's got a lot of pressure at this point.
    — Bleue
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:15 AM, 07/30/2011
    I think the Phils will send Brown down, not only to get him more experience, but it's really important that he play every day, especially in left field. He'd be sitting on the bench up here, and I'm sure he'll be back in September.
    — craigaa52
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:56 PM, 07/29/2011
    I think Brown goes down to learn to play LF then comes back end of August or Sept 1st at the latest.
    — wildbill99
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:18 AM, 07/30/2011
    I agree with a few fellow posters. Leave Brown up with the Phils and cut Gload. He will learn more up here in a platoon with Ibanez than he would in AAA.
    — JimSeitz
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:17 AM, 07/30/2011
    you usually wouldn't platoon two left handed hitting outfielders ...
    — Pa Reader
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:41 AM, 07/30/2011
    Brown is gonna need time in left field and he needs to play everyday, no brainer he gets sent down...Mayberry could join him, for the same reason...to play everyday...they will both be back in September
    — danielboyer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:49 AM, 07/30/2011
    I hope it's Carpenter that's gone and not Valdez. The latter has been extremely valuable while the former couldn't even pitch with a 10-run lead tonight
    — VicM
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:59 AM, 07/30/2011
    Brown goes down to play in left field and gets at bats...In my mind he shouldn't be GIVEN any position..he can compete with Mayberry for the job ( they should really platoon) for leftfield next year....Gload is a seasoned pinch hitter, invaluable late in the season...cop a clue....Never rule out anything w/Ruben...Polanco went 0 for 6 in his rehabs, and none knows how he feels...
    — bearsfriend
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:00 AM, 07/30/2011
    Come playoff time,Brown comes back..Benny becomes the fall guy.
    — bearsfriend
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:09 AM, 07/30/2011
    I thought he was clear that he may not be done with possible transactions.
    — MooseBreathMints


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About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
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