Amaro acknowledges concerns about team's age
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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)
Amaro learns lessons.
First he knows he messed up with Lee and went out and got Oswalt.
Second he knows he messed up with signing Howard way to soon and now he will not make the same mistake with Rollins.
Ruben sign Werth and trade both Rollins and Victorino.— Bob65S- Jason Werth is as good as gone. They will have to try and trade for a good right handed bat. If they do resign him, look for Rollins to be traded. I think his time has come to move on. Good season, they'll be better next year!— sima_down_nah
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get over LEE .. and what was wrong signing OSWALT! how many teams have 3 quality starting pichers?
HALLADAY .. OSWALT .. HAMELS! some fans think they know more than they do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— bill poore - His comments on age are hopefully an indication that Ibanez is outta here. Sure hope they move Rollins and rebuild at SS/leadoff.— n62
- Amaro said of Werth's 2010: "It wasn't as productive a year as he's had in the past." How do you figure, Ruben? He had the highest OPS, OPS+, total bases, hit total and wins above replacement of his career! I'll take this over any other Jayson Werth year. That being said, I'm glad Ruben acknowledged the team's age, and if that's a concern, signing a 31 year old outfielder who's likely to be entering his decline years soon despite his great season might not be the best idea.— amc312
- @Bob65S: Are you serious? I guess you're fantasy baseball team doesn't value defense.— Vote for Dickie
- wow, they thought they were going to be world series champs? so i guess they blame the pitchers for not tossing a shutout every game... maybe someone needed to tell them they can't win if they don't score.
- what's wrong with werth in center and brown in right?
what's wrong with valdez at short?
I dont understand how you guys think this team can keep werth without getting rid of rollins or victorino.
Also maybe we could get a better contact shortstop in a trade or a better leadoff hitter.
I think its time to trade some of these guys and shake things up on the hitting side.
Rolllins and victorino would be the easiest to move.— Bob65S - Jason Werth is more important to this team then we realize, beyond homers and batting average. The talk with all the free agents that come here is the "mood of the clubhouse" is "fun" or "funner" with the Phils team. Alot has to do with Werth. His "cool dude" persona is what drives that clubhouse along with Rollins' mouth and Vic's "it dont bother me" attitude. I can't imagine Utley, Howard or Ibanez are the center of attention in the clubhouse. If you let Werth go you will change the "mood" in this clubhouse for certain. Problem is that Boras will demand top dollar and Werth does have a long swing after all, and he will need to ultimately take less to stay here and contend for one more year (thats' all folks)
— Fo Fo Fo - I realize that Raul's age is considered "old" in professional baseball and he struggled in the beginning of the season and in the post season. However, nobody hustles like this man--he runs as hard as he can down the first baseline everytime. I've watched a few Phils(Howard is one of them)not run out a routine grounder. Raul hit 303 from July 1st to the end of the regular season 2/ 47 RBI's and had a 20+game hitting streak. He was a big contibutor in our September come back. Need to give the guy some credit. Tired of hearing him get criticized.— luvthephils
- Please stop talking about Cliff Lee. Pitching was not the problem this year. It was fielding, hitting and running.— babiesmakinbabies
- I dont mind keeping Jimmy for his glove and arm at ss but I think we need an upgrade in the leadoff position. I think the offense didnt have that "catalyst" they used to have in the "prime Rollins". The decline in overall offense seems to coincide - and Vic isnt that answer either.
That being said, at $8mil for his glove and leadership, I dont know if you can do better via trade or free agency - but we need to identify an heir apparent, even at SS. I am guessing it happens in this years deep draft.
I do think its time for a little shakeup though. We found JC Romero, Vic and Werth (even Dobbs) on the scrap heap/fallen prospect list - why cant we do it again.
Is it Francisco? Maybe a guy like Brandon Wood? Chris Ray? Nolan Reimold? John Mayberry Jr.— shova - Time to oust Amaro for his blatant bad-mouthing of players. Everyone knows gillick built this team. Amara should be grateful Gillick assembled such an unselfish group of players. All Amaro has done is sign The Big Zero to an outlandish $125 million contract.— TheSage
- OR - Do you trade a Ryan Howard for 3 young players. I could see my AL team, Boston, giving up an Elsbury and Lowrie + maybe one more player (a reliever about to get expensive like Papelbon???)to get a premier slugger like Howard to replace Papi. They will probably sign Werth too.
But we can move Chase to 1B, plug in Ellsbury in LF (or CF) and leadoff and let Lowrie play 2B (or 3b and put Polly back to 2B - or leave Chase at 2b, Lowrie at SS and trade JRoll).
Was it Branch Rickey that said "better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late?— shova - busting up the team,isn't the answer.hitting was the problem here.the main hitters didn't bring it.keeping werth,would make sense,unless.u get a hitter,and glove to replace him.RUBEN, hope learned your lesson.i;'m still shaking my head,WHY IN THE HECK DIDN'T RYAN SWING AS THAT LAST PITCH??......dang it man......have a good winter guys.........KEEP WERTH,EVEN IF IT ISN'T LONG TERM, BUT KEEP HIM! and i'll root for cliff lee...go rangers!!— t_darb_56
About this blog
The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
Inquirer Staff Writer
Bob Brookover
Inquirer Baseball Columnist
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