Amaro acknowledges concerns about team's age
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke for a half hour Monday at Citizens Bank Park to issue his state of the team address as the Phillies head into the off-season without a pennant for the first time in three years.
Amaro acknowledges concerns about team's age
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke for a half hour Monday at Citizens Bank Park to issue his state of the team address as the Phillies head into the off-season without a pennant for the first time in three years.
He had plenty of interesting things to say.
"I think there are three elements we have to be ready to handle this off-season. One is our six free agents," Amaro said. "We have to deal with those. I think we have to deal with our age because we're starting to move past and into the prime ages of production. And I think we have to address the bullpen because that's something that could have been an Achilles' heel. They ended up performing very well because our starters went deep into games."
The age comments were intriguing because, really, it hasn't been discussed much publicly by the front office.
"Do I think about the age? I do," Amaro said. "Do we have to start thinking about filtering some youth into our club? Yes, I believe that too. But at the same time, we want to be a contender again. So we have to balance those two things."
Obviously, most of the talking points began and ended with Jayson Werth, who is a free agent.
"I haven't had any discussions with Scott [Boras] yet," Amaro said. "I obviously will over the next 48 hours, we will make contact. I guess the following question is, do we have enough money to do it? And would we like to bring him back? I think the answer to both questions is yes. However, that will all kind of depend on what the ask is and ultimately how that will affect us with other possible moves to do it."
Boras said during the season Werth was having a "franchise-type season." Amaro didn't necessarily agree.
"Jayson had a good year," he said. "It wasn't an extraordinary year. He had a tough time with men on in scoring position. It wasn't as productive a year as he's had in the past. But I think if he's not with us, there are players we can either acquire or are in our own organization that can help us."
If the Phillies try to sign Werth, how difficult is it to do other things?
"Well, it becomes difficult if you don't move other pieces. ... We might have to make other adjustments."
That's the only way you could re-sign Werth?
"Not necessarily."
If Werth leaves, Amaro said the job would not be handed to rookie Domonic Brown.
"We have not given the job to Domonic Brown," he said. "He's been told that, flat out. He's going to have to earn a spot on our club next year. He's going to winter ball. A lot of it will depend on what the status is with Jayson."
Other things to note...
-- Amaro said the team will likely not negotiate with Jimmy Rollins this off-season. Rollins is entering the final season of his contract.
"I think we'll probably let things, at this time, play out," Amaro said.
-- Charlie Manuel is also going into a contract year and the GM said that will be taken care of at some time this off-season.
"At some point, we will probably address it with Charlie," Amaro said. "We have not. I've asked all the coaches back."
-- Assistant general manager Chuck LaMar said first base prospect Jonathan Singleton's experiment in the outfield during Fall Instructional League went so well that he will begin next season as the left fielder at single-A Clearwater.
-- And as for the mood around the club, Amaro had this to say:
"I think this one stung pretty good. I think the players really believed they were going to be World Series champions. I think they'll be chomping at the bit come spring."
Read Tuesday's Inquirer for much, much more...
Comments (47)
Rather have Victorino and Rollins than Werth.— thefadd- luvthephils, ibanez had a season very typical of his career stats (.275 avg, .349 obp, 16hr, 83rbi). problem is he's old and just had a dreadful postseason (.226 avg, .273 obp, 0hr, 0rbi). i give him some credit and expect him to be a contributor next year but this was a realllly bad playoffs for him.— vmurali
- "I've asked all the coaches back." Including Greg Gross? Forgive me for pointing this out, but this team's problem in the June slump as well as in the playoffs was a hitting drought, especially, but not exclusively, with RISP. We love Chooch, but when your No. 8 man is your most consistent hit producer, there's a systemic problem with hitting.— MadHungarian
- How about trading Joe Blanton? Free up $9 million. He is a solid pitcher but with our Big 3, its a luxury to have a $9 mil 4th starter. And see what the market is for Ryan Howard. He is a "fixed cost" for any big market team.— fatherof4
Where's Lonewolf with his Cliff Lee nonsense???????— jamarder- if we had Lee would could have won at least ONE game by a score of 0 to -1. That's how good he is.— lefty1117
- Before the Phillies won a championship in 2008, the only major Philadelphia sports franchise to do it was the 1983 Sixers. That is 25 years between championships. It seems right now that it will be another 25 years or longer with the way the hammer drops in Philly. Eagles had their chances over the past 10 years and blew everyone of them. The last time the Sixers had a chance was nearly 10 years ago, but got dominated in the end. The Flyers have come close but just can't get over the hump. The Phillies should be playing in the World Series this year but are not because they blew it. We might as well enjoy the 2008 Phillies championship title because it will likely be the last in this town for many years to come.— jimqk
- With the talk about age and the need to get younger, Werth is as good as gone and both Rollins and Ibanez are gone the following year. Brown and Francisco will probably platoon next year to replace Werth, with Brown becoming a full time starter when Ibanez leaves. I don't see Francisco becoming a full time starter, so we will need a new shortstop and a regular outfielder unless Francisco finds an extra offensive gear.— drog
- That post by "shova" is a breath of fresh air!....Sounds good to me. ALSO: Suppose you go "all-In" and trade away Howard, Rollins, Ibanez, and almost anybody else to acquire ANOTHER number one-type pitcher? Trade away anybody but our Three Aces, Ruiz, Utley, Valdez, Madson and Lidge. GET that fourth Number One, find some good gloves and some decent hitting to fill out the lineup (Keeping Palonco, by the way!)And I'll bet they win 95-100 games next year, AND get to the World Series again!.......PS:I'd fall down laughing myself SILLY if that ever came about!— TBear
- It is a little late for Mr. Amaro to be concerned about age, after he decimated the farm system to get Lee, Halladay and Oswalt. Now it's back to the drawing board as it has become apparent that the nucleus that was supposed to be good at least three more years is fraying at the edges. Good luck trying to trade Howard with his outrageous salary. If he can move Utley, Rollins or Victorino, it might be a good time to do it, but it will be hard to get equivalent value in return. With so many players in their thirties, injuries will continue to be a problem. Werth would be a fool to miss his big payday to stay with the Phils at a bargain price.— jaslats
Rollins is will be in a contract year...he won't be traded before the season begins...if he were to be traded...it would be one of those July trade deadline trades...the best trade bait the PHILLIES have is Victorino...to sign Werth would likely mean trading Victorino, then Werth is your new center fielder
I like what Ruben says. He is a man unafraid to take risk. Ruben also appears flexible, admitting his shortcomings. Willing to take another look. Ruben has voiced my concerns. Whether or not the right decisions will be made....is up to the players. Rube's putting the work in, at least.— road515- Cut ties with Rollins, trade victorino and sign Crawford.— beefbr
- @shova, I like your thinking! Pitching, speed, defense, flexibility...— dasher
- Trade Raul for a minor league relief pitcher, let Dobbs go, re-sign Werth and move him to left, put Brown in right, have Francisco and Maybery come off the bench. For pitching re-sign Durbin and Contreras trade Blanton for relief help, let Romero and Moyer go. Let Kendrick and Worley be the 4th and 5th starters. I would not give up Rollins or Victorino.— jss31
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The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
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