Amaro raises interesting questions about Werth's future
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Amaro raises interesting questions about Werth's future
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
After the news conference to announce Shane Victorino's three-year, $22-million contract, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. provided a frank assessment of the outfield's future.
His deduction? There will be some difficult decisions to make.
No reporter had even mentioned Jayson Werth's name before Amaro did. With nearly $130 million committed to just 14 players for 2011, the Phillies could be priced out of re-signing Werth, especially after the contract they gave Victorino today.
Here's a chunk of what Amaro said:
"You start adding all-star caliber players, that is obviously going to increase your core group. I guess the next question you would have is, where do we stand with Jayson? Jayson is under contract through this year. We’ve had very, very preliminary discussions about what his future might be like here. There will be some difficult decisions down the road. We’ll have to weigh where we want to fit in all the dollars and how we want to fit the puzzle together. We can not operate with nothing but $15- to $20-million players. And if there’s any indication, how much the [Matt] Holliday and [Jason] Bay signings have on direct impact on where Werth may be at the end of this year, we’re going to have to sift through it and figure out what’s best for the organization.
"That’s one of the pitfalls of locking guys up. It’s great to have these guys as stability. But there is risk here. We’re hopeful we put the risk into the right people. That’s the bottom line. Will we have made mistakes along the way? It’s very possible."
Hazmat - under your scnario, we may be talking about a Jayson Werth extention and a Ryan Howard firesale. He'll be much more attractive since he's locked up for 2011.— B in DC- they have to find a way to sign werth. ibanez had a great seaon, but i dont see a repeat of that. Dom Brown will replace Raul, but we dont have anyone in the system ready to replace werth in RF. they could deal him before the deadline if he's playing well, which he needs to do in a contract year.
- Would like to see them keep Werth, especially for the RH power bat which they definitely need. But RAJ is right, they can't keep everyone. Werth almost has to go after this season and Howard/Ibanez after next. So how 'bout they send Werth out with another ring!
- Can't lose Werth.— The-Terminator
- Who's going to pinch-run with Lee not here this year?— Danno
Comment removed.- Glen71 must think that the Phillies have the national fan support of the Red Sox or the marketing/media of the Yankees. Get a clue dude, we will ALWAYS be behind those two teams in terms of payroll, so stop the cheap ownership stuff. When the Phils let Rowand go, there was alot of backlash because Rowand was a 'Philly guy' all the way. I say that worked out ofr the best, no? The Phillies are STILL the BEST TEAM IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE and will represent YET AGAIN in the WS.— ESFjellin
I am in total agreement with Will.i.Am.— LDV24- Comment removed.
- i'd rather have cliff lee for a year than 3 guys who won't make any impact in the majors their entire careers.— jodya2
- Will.i.am - Can't cut him or the Phils will be on the hook for all of his remaining salary. They could try to trade him away, but if that were to happen the Phillies would have to eat a nice portion of his contract. And extreme - The Phils picked up Rollins option, they didn't give him an extension. And who would you rather give up, someone who is a Gold Glover at the hardest position to play or an OF with a good arm (dime a dozen)?— ESFjellin
moyer should give his money back...- werth has a terrible arm, rocket arm? crazy. and rowan left but he got paid, and werth has a ring so while getting another might be important I think he'd rather get a deal in the bay/holiday range. He'll play huge this year since he'll be pitching himself for a big deal come winter 2010. but he won't get it cuz of his fielding/arm strength. his bat and legs are his money makers.— workinwestphilly
- "Bring up a prospect for the outfield to take Ibanez maybe we can cut him save some $$, and keep Werth..." i guess you werent aware that MLB contracts are guaranteed?— jfd6812
- Dominick Brown is the RF of the future.— bobbyd24
