Amaro says Phillies want quick resolution on Werth
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Amaro says Phillies want quick resolution on Werth
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
An ESPN.com report surfaced earlier this week that quoted a Phillies source as saying the team had no chance of re-signing right fielder Jayson Werth.
"No chance. None. Zero."
That was the exact quote from the Phillies' source in a story by Jayson Stark.
Asked about that statement Friday, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro emphatically shot it down.
"That's unequivocally a false statement," Amaro said. "That did not come from me and I would not express that."
Amaro would not comment on whether he has made a contract proposal to Werth's agent Scott Boras, but he did say the Phillies hope to have a relatively fast resolution on whether the free agent right fielder will return to the team.
"I don't think it's something we're going to let go on for a while," Amaro said. "Hopefully we'll find out if he's a viable option to bring back in a short period of time. Regardless of what happens with Jayson, there are things we need to do."
Amaro said one of the things at the top of the team's agenda is strengthening the bullpen.
"I think there is some help out there for us and we think we can improve our bullpen," Amaro said. "We'd like to think we can do something from the left side, but there aren't that many guys out there."
Minnesota's Brian Fuentes and Hisanori Takahashi and Pedro Feliciano of the New York Mets are among the left-handed free-agent relievers available.
Phillies biggest problem's are two-fold: a)lack of a lead-off hitter and b) right-handed power. Not signing Werth is going to have far reaching consequences. Yes the middle bullpen needs help - but if they don't get the line-up improved there will be a lot of hand-wringing next season. Rollins and Ibanez are major concerns and until Dominick Brown proves he can hit the breaking ball he is this generations Jeff Stone - great physical presence.........but no-hit.— Northcountry- Werth is way overrated. 85 RBI hitting fifth in that lineup? .139 RISP w/ 2 out? Can't hit w/ pressure. Never could. A good RH bat in the order, but won't be worth anyway near the $15 mil he'll get from Boston.— ejc527
- No matter how he shakes it, Philly is still his best fit. The park, the fans, the playoffs, the pitching staff, the lineup. Hope Borass allows him to do what he wants and not what Borass wants.— bossrjc
- Frankly I wouldn't sign any player to a contract that would be untradeable. Meaning, no more overpay to get a player. You have 2 current contracts that you couldn't dump if you wanted.(Howard and Ibanez)The Phils have to start acting like "This is the place to be".
They are consistantly one of the top five teams in baseball with a great park for hitters and a wonderful fan base.If you want a 6year contract than go to the Orioles or the Nats for example. Hell your the one that has to play there for 6 years.— batmann1 - dogman5 YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH.— Phillies08
- RAJ screwed Lopes out of a fair pay raise and we lost a great coach who literally gave us many more runs (that turned into wins) than we would have had without his insight, so what makes anyone think he'll offer Werth fair money? If RAJ really wanted to bring back Werth it would have been done by now. I'm still hoping to see Jayson back next year but I'm not holding my breath. I just think RAJ is going to low ball him and force him to walk.— Kanayd
- I personally think Jayson is going to pull off a Chan Ho Park and turn down the summer's reported 4 years @ $66 million and end up signing somewhere in late January for 4 years @ $48-$52 million.— jtj06
liar liar pants on fire, shame on you Mr. GM.- don't know how anyone will convince jason that 75 million is a no-win situation— SyddBarrett
- Phils need to take the gloves off and raise the ticket pricess a good 10+.
They will never have a sweet TV deal like the Yankees, so they need to start charging like the Red Sox due. The average ticket price for a game at Fenway is almost $20 a ticket more than Philly.
They can't continue being a top5 payroll in baseball if they don't start generatng revenues like the Red Sox & the Yankees.— Rod72 - I've said it before and I'll say it again. RAJ couldn't destroy this team faster with a sledgehammer. He inherited a world champion and they've retreated in each year he has been at the helm. His team is LH heavy and strike-out prone. His only power RH bat will leave and Rollins go back to hitting lead-off (and being one of the worst). Rollins to Victorino what Leno was to Conan. He will be known to have signed Moyer for 2 years when no one offered 1 year. Raul for 3 years when no one offered 2 years guaranteed. He increased Howard's number precisely as Howard looks like pitchers have him figured out. He trades away Lee for peanuts and obfuscates as to why. He trades for Doc because the Phils were the only team that Doc would accept a trade (ever wonder why the Angels stronger offer to the Blue Jays never materialized?). He botched Blanton's aribtration then gives him $24 million. He picked up Rollins' option a year early. He signed Baez. But yippee, we have Doc, Roy (nice add, but only to make up for a major oops) and Cole. Yet our offense can't play small ball and can't plate runs when it needs to, and goes into month-long slumps. Werth should go. He should find out where Cliff is headed and join him. Get ready for another 90+ win season and then a buzzsaw ending when crunch-time comes and they have to face a team with good pitching, particularly good southpaws. Doc, Roy and Cole have already shown us that they can lose games when the offense fires blanks. They are great but they can't defy reality.— bm2626
My cousin Shirley is left-handed and presently out of work.- Anyone notice why we just signed Juan Samuel? To coach outfield? To coach D-Brown? Forget about Werth. Brown is our next long-term superstar, barring injuries. Agree with person who said Phanatic could play RF with the team we'll have.— Sandy Sorlien
- I alwaysd liked Sammy as person and player, just thought his success was attributable to talent rather than knowledge of the game - I've always thought the gifted guy may or may not learn fundamentals, whereas the marginal guy has to explore every nuance of the game to succeed. That is useful to every man on the roster not just the handful of extraordinary athletes - a coaches true value.— robinlupe
- Bring back Gillick. The deal would get done with him!! Hey Jason show some loyalty!!— sawgrass
